Exploring Paths to a U.S. Digital Skills Framework (And Why We Need One)

As the main drivers of the digital divide evolve, digital inclusion efforts that seek to increase digital skills, build consumer trust in digital technologies, and promote information about affordability plans and other broadband availability programs have fast become key to getting everyone online. This report argues for the creation of a national digital skills framework and explains the immediate policy context. It explores some key literature and studies measuring different aspects of digital literacy, including the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Survey of Adult Skills (which measures competence in a digital environment) and the Pew Research Center’s survey assessing familiarity with various digital topics. It also examines some existing digital skills frameworks, such as Northstar Digital Literacy, the International Society for Technology in Education’s standards for technology usage in classrooms, and the EU’s DigComp. After examining the landscape of available resources, this report outlines, in broad strokes, some potential paths forward to a national digital skills framework.