We are writing to express our support for extending funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program, an essential program that over 23 million families rely on to access quality and affordable high-speed internet. The Affordable Connectivity Program has been a key tool in our efforts to eliminate the digital divide in America since it was created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021. The fact that the Affordable Connectivity Program was enacted into law as a part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is not lost on us – it’s a program that has wide support. From Democrats to Republicans, to rural and urban areas, to the telecommunications industry and all levels of government, the Affordable Connectivity Program is recognized by all as successful. At this crucial time, we urge Congress to renew and extend the Affordable Connectivity Program funding in 2024 to ensure currently enrolled low-income households continue to have access to affordable high-speed internet. As America’s mayors, we stand ready to continue our support for this program and look forward to continuing this important work to ensure that everyone has access to quality and affordable broadband.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic posed dire challenges for digital inclusion and digital literacy among marginalized communities. This article adopts a case study approach to analyse how the digital navigator programme (DNP) in Philadelphia addresses these challenges. The DNP in this city implements a policy design and governance strategy, which presents a novel approach to bolstering universal access to information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, digital inclusion and digital literacy in order to combat the pandemic’s pernicious impact in worsening the digital divide in the city. This policy approach entails collaborative governance and cross-sector partnerships to address digital equity issues exacerbated by the pandemic. This study offers empirical evidence on the demands that the city’s residents placed on the DNP to address their digital inclusion and digital literacy issues. It also provides an understanding of the measures that the DNP’s partners adopted to respond to the citizens’ needs for digital equity.

Beacon Broadband announced the opening of its latest service area on the north end of Brookings (OR). As of January 15, residents in the area north of Harris Beach can now enjoy the exceptional benefits of Beacon Broadband's fiber internet, voice, and video services. With this area now available for service, Beacon Broadband is extending its reach to approximately 360 new addresses on the north end of Brookings. Beacon Broadband takes pride in offering its customers their “Price for Life Guarantee”, ensuring that the price members choose for their internet package will remain unchanged for as long as they are customers. This guarantee eliminates the worry of sudden price increases or hidden fees, allowing customers to enjoy their internet service without any gimmicks.

John Deere will tap SpaceX’s satellite fleet to propel the tractor maker’s digital farming push and help automate planting and harvesting in remote locations. The world’s largest farm machinery manufacturer signed a deal with SpaceX’s Starlink business to connect tractors, seed planters, crop sprayers, and other equipment in areas that lack adequate internet service, allowing them to use Deere’s digital products. Illinois-based Deere has been investing billions of dollars in building out computer-assisted services for farmers, including software that allows herbicide sprayers to distinguish crops from weeds and driverless tractors to plow fields. Deere tested satellites for about eight months before settling on Starlink. The company chose Starlink in part because of the speed at which its low-orbiting satellites transmit signals, said Jahmy Hindman, Deere’s chief technology officer.