5 Lessons Learned from the Digital Inclusion Research Forum
On October 12th and 13th, researchers, policy leaders, and practitioners from across the United States convened in Dallas, Texas, at the Federal Reserve Bank for the first of its kind Digital Inclusion Research Forum. Next Century Cities presented research on broadband affordability during a Poster Session.
Five key takeaways from the event include:
- Diverse community perspectives are essential to achieving broadband for all.
Prior to 2020, broadband programs primarily focused on either broadband access or adoption. When COVID-19 highlighted the need for more robust broadband planning, funding strategies shifted to achieve multiple goals. The Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (“BEAD”) program and Digital Equity Act require states to incorporate community voices into their universal connectivity plans. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s BEAD-Digital Equity Alignment Guide encourages states to jointly address access and adoption in developing broadband and digital equity plans, noting that “Conducting outreach as a cohesive effort for the two programs will reduce the burden and confusion on community stakeholders.”
Requiring community engagement and encouraging joint BEAD and digital equity planning are important steps forward, but ongoing relationships between broadband policymakers and residents most impacted by the digital divide are necessary to address long standing gaps. During keynote remarks, Nicol Turner Lee captured this sentiment, stating that “centering people means centering equity.”
2. The Affordable Connectivity Program is central to universal broadband strategies.
More than 22 million residents across the US are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides a monthly broadband subsidy of $30 on non-Tribal lands and $75 on Tribal lands. Congress has yet to renew the program, which is set to run out of funding in April 2024. H. Trostle shared findings from in-depth analysis of ACP data, which reveal that uptake on Tribal lands exceeds enrollment rates on non-Tribal lands. This trend continued across urban and rural communities alike even when excluding outlier areas like Oklahoma, which is largely composed of Tribal lands. A higher ACP benefit for residents living on Tribal lands and outreach through existing trusted relationships with Tribal leaders and members were cited as two potential reasons.
Learn more about Trostle’s research in October’s Broadband Bites for Lunch segment.
3. Technology is vital to fully participating in daily life.
As Internet speeds and availability have increased exponentially, connected applications have become integral to daily life and societal participation. Stacey Wedlake presented findings from a study about technology’s role in refugee resettlement in Washington state. Smartphones, tablets, and computers enable refugees to maintain social connections with friends and family who are far away as well as build new relationships with neighbors, employers, and social services. Critically, Wedlake and fellow researchers found that “digital technologies such as social media and mobile phones become “lifelines” by providing social bonds and bridges for refugees.” Wedlake’s research highlights that in refugee communities, technology remains essential to education, healthcare, financial services, and employment opportunities as well as domestic technologies, including ovens and laundry machines.
4. Digital equity success metrics are a work in progress.
Since technology is constantly evolving, working toward digital equity is an ongoing effort. However, the ever-changing nature of digital equity goals poses challenges to measuring success. Researchers at the Quello Center, Merit, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, and the Digital Equity Research Center developed the Digital Opportunities Compass, a framework designed to assess digital equity efforts and measure policy outcomes. The Compass includes six components and indicator areas:
- Contexts — indicators related to sociodemographic, economic, and community level factors.
- Governance — indicators related to local, state, and federal policy, governance, and power.
- Connectivity — indicators related to the existence of necessary network infrastructure, as well as the accessibility, affordability, and adoption of internet service and network-enabled devices.
- Skills — indicators related to a broad range of activities centered around digital literacy (including secure online practices), training, and skills attainment.
- Application — indicators related to the uses and application of digital connectivity and skills, while considering additional sociotechnical contexts.
- Outcomes — indicators related to the broader effects of improved digital equity on individuals, communities, and states.
Examining each aspect of digital equity initiatives can help community leaders identify what data to collect from the outset and evaluate the program over time, determining which areas need policy adjustments.
5. Storytelling is critical to showcase community initiatives.
The Digital Inclusion Research Forum provided a platform for researchers, practitioners, and policy experts to reconnect with existing allies and forge new relationships. Each community faces unique barriers to digital equity, but when local leaders share their own experiences, they can inspire innovative connectivity strategies. Cross-sector partnerships and engaging the local community are two common themes that often emerge across digital inclusion initiatives nationwide.
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