National Digital Inclusion Alliance

NDIA is excited to announce the launch of our new interactive Affiliate Map, a user-friendly tool designed to simplify connections with other Affiliates! The map includes search and filter options to help find affiliates by organization name and location. We encourage everyone to explore the map and discover affiliates in your area. If you need to update your organization's information on the map, please email us at community@digitalinclusion.org.

“The difference between opportunity and frustration often comes down to a simple digital connection,” said Abby Russell.

Digital skills frameworks and skill lists can be compared to the instruction you or others provide to better understand what levels and ranges of learning are being offered and achieved…and for users to recognize and celebrate their success!

In Appalachia Kentucky where reliable internet access and digital literacy can mean the difference between opportunity and isolation, Ashley Smith is helping people navigate a new path forward. As the local Digital Navigator, Ashley has worked one-on-one with hundreds of residents, connecting them to education, jobs, and essential online resources. One of Ashley’s first clients was a college student struggling to use Blackboard, a platform essential for online coursework. Frustrated and falling behind, she turned to Ashley for help.

There’s been great progress in recognizing how essential digital skills are! But which skills are those, and who needs them when? In this series we'll look at the framing of digital skills training, starting with the basics, and to provide tools for you to use. This is the first of two posts on digital skills. Part 1 presents a model for digital skill learning purposes, the link between individual and broader field needs, and introduces digital skill assessments, lists, and frameworks.

Named for Charles Benton, the founder of Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, NDIA created the awards to recognize leadership and dedication in advancing digital equity: from promoting the ideal of accessible and affordable communications technology for all Americans to crafting programs and policies that make it a reality. NDIA presents two awards: the Digital Equity Champion Award recognizes an outstanding individual who has made a difference in the field of digital equity, while the Digital Equity Emerging Leader Champion Award acknowledges an up-and-coming leader.

For people deeply rooted in ancestral practices, sustainability is key to the Jemez Pueblo way of life. When the Pueblo was selected in 2022 to host a Digital Navigator program, it was clear the initiative would need to be thoughtfully integrated into the community’s culture to succeed.

On an afternoon in rural Alabama, a group of seniors gather at their local library, excited for what has become their favorite weekly activity. Some have never touched a computer before, while others had a few stories of frustration with outdated devices. But what united them was a desire to learn—and the patient guidance of Megan Waiters, the lead Digital Navigator for the Community Service Programs of West Alabama.

A comprehensive and ongoing assessment and celebration of states’ digital inclusion work. This new evaluation reflects a broader focus on other components of digital inclusion and reflects a range of activities that state governments can engage in:

In Forest County, Wisconsin, where the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest spreads out for miles and the population is around 9,500, life appears to move a bit slower. But thanks to the efforts of local hero Steve Watson, things are speeding up—digitally, that is! Located along the state’s northeast border, Forest County faces significant challenges with internet access, particularly for older residents and members of the Forest County Potawatomi and Sokaogon Chippewa Communities. The region’s dense trees and rugged terrain complicate the installation of broadband infrastructure.