Digital Divide

The Commerce Department is examining changes to the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program aimed at expanding internet access around the country with new rules that will make it easier for Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite-internet service, to tap in to rural broadband funding, said people familiar with the plans. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has told staff he plans to make the grant program “technology-neutral,” the people said.

The BEAD Program is on course to ensuring that every location in the U.S. has fast, reliable, and affordable internet access over networks that can be easily upgraded to keep up with the connectivity demands of Americans for decades to come. Secretary Lutnick's reported meddling is likely to leave millions of Americans with broadband that is slower, less reliable, and more expensive—while at the same time surrendering US leadership in the global race for high-speed broadband. Americans deserve better.

Due to ongoing federal government realignment to meet the priorities of the new administration, the Texas Broadband Development Office (BDO) will pause all grants and contracts related to the state’s allocation of the federal State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program. Given this uncertainty, the BDO wants potential applicants to avoid investing significant time and resources into preparing applications until the office receives more clarity on the future of the program from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

“For me, being a Digital Navigator is an opportunity to give back to the community that shaped me,” shares Tyler Smith, Gila River’s Digital Navigator. “I want to help elevate our digital skills and uplift our voices in the pursuit of digital equity.” Born and raised in the Gila River Indian Community, Tyler embodies the mission of the Digital Navigator program. With his deep roots and passion for giving back, he is bridging the gap between infrastructure and accessibility, empowering residents one connection at a time.

“We are on a mission to help residents overcome the digital divide,” says Rachel Williams, the first digital navigator for Washington County (ME) who brings essential digital skills to the community’s older population. The National Digital Equity Center (NDEC) is utilizing a Google.org grant through the National Digital Inclusion Alliance's (NDIA) National Digital Navigator Corps program for Rachel and the team of Digital Navigators to help residents in this remote part of the state become more connected to the digital world.

Harvard Business School research continues to reveal the contours of a workforce changed by COVID-19. And yet, despite the technological advancements of the past five years, a digital divide persists.Some things we learned include:

With the growing use of telemedicine, remote patient monitoring devices, and other digital healthcare services, it’s become clear companies must address the digital divide in healthcare to increase access and promote patient engagement, especially among underserved and rural populations. Mobile technology can help bridge this gap, allowing insurers and healthcare providers to deliver patient education and a range of healthcare services that potentially improve care quality — regardless of what patients can afford, where they live, or the level of digital access in their communities.

Connected Nation (CN) released a new research report titled, “Beyond access: Learning the digital skills to thrive online,” which can be found here. The report describes what the term “digital literacy” means, details its importance, and discusses different approaches to teaching digital skills.

As we patiently wait for news on the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program, the U.S. Senate is pushing for legislation that could make it less costly for rural ISPs to apply for BEAD. Or so the industry hopes. Sens Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Mark Warner (D-VA) led a bill that would amend the Internal Revenue Service code so federal broadband deployment funding would not be considered taxable income.

MCNC and Fybe, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Roanoke Cooperative, announced the creation of eNCore. This new non-profit collaboration is tasked with bridging the digital divide for residential and business communities throughout rural North Carolina—providing next-generation connectivity and high-speed access to all the modern resources needed to participate in today’s digital economy.