Small Wins, Big Impact: Advancing Digital Equity for Older Adults

On March 19, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, with support from AARP, hosted a webinar titled Understanding Internet Access and Use Among Older Adults. Revati Prasad, PhD, Vice President of Programs at the Benton Institute, previewed the new report, Older Adults Online: Measuring Internet Access and Use, and moderated a panel of experts who discussed the needs of older adult populations. The discussion also explored how states can use strategic partnerships and research to translate data into policy to make the most of the substantial investments of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Panelists included Julia Brinjac of the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA), Erin Huggins from North Carolina State University, Colby Humphrey, PhD, from Pew Charitable Trusts, and AARP’s Tim Morstad. As states move from setting objectives to implementing their digital equity plans and demonstrating meaningful impact, the strategies outlined in Older Adults Online: Measuring Internet Access and Use provide a roadmap for effectively measuring and advancing digital inclusion for older adults.