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Digital Equity and Inclusion Resources
Digital Equity Act 101
- Digital Equity Act Programs Overview – Internet for All: A one-pager on the three DEA grants and the funding timeline from NTIA.
- Digital Equity Act Program – Internet for All: The DEA landing page on NTIA’s Internet for All site.
- Internet for All Map: Interactive map with contacts, program statuses, and funding allocations by state.
- Digital Equity Programs – BroadbandUSA: The DEA landing page on NTIA’s BroadbandUSA site, with planning guidance and technical assistance for states. Topics include digital equity and inclusion, aligning DEA and BEAD, local coordination, and stakeholder engagement.
- Digital Equity Act FAQs – BroadbandUSA: The official FAQ document on the DEA. Last updated on June 6, 2022.
- Digital Equity Act Programs Webinar – Internet for All: Recording and slides for the webinar NTIA held on May 18, 2022.
- Full legislative text (in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act)
- Digital Equity Act 101 – World Education: A slide deck digital equity and inclusion advocates can use to spread awareness of DEA and the digital divide.
- Digital Equity Now: A Call to Action for Adult Education Leadership – World Education: A blog post summarizing the Digital Equity Act and why the adult education field needs to get involved.
- Implementing the New Digital Equity Act: What Workforce and Education Advocates Need to Know – National Skills Coalition: A brief on the DEA geared towards advocates in workforce, higher education, and adult education.
- Gearing Up for the Digital Equity Act with Libraries – National Skills Coalition: Recording and slides from a webinar on how libraries can leverage DEA funding.
- Blog posts on Digital Equity Act – National Digital Inclusion Alliance: Key updates on the Digital Equity Act for digital inclusion advocates.
NTIA Guidance & Resources for State Digital Equity Planning
- Internet for All Map: Interactive map with contacts, program statuses, and funding allocations by state.
- Digital Equity Programs – BroadbandUSA: The DEA landing page on NTIA’s BroadbandUSA site, with planning guidance and technical assistance for states. Topics include digital equity and inclusion, aligning DEA and BEAD, local coordination, and stakeholder engagement.
- Digital Equity Plan Guidance: Guidance on how to structure and what to include in the Digital Equity Plan to meet all the requirements.
- State Digital Equity Plan Template: Optional template to support states in capturing notes and developing their Digital Equity Plans.
- Digital Equity Guide for the States: Includes the basics of digital equity, an overview of the DEA, and best practices for preparing and executing State Digital Equity Plans.
- Asset Mapping Guide: Data Equity Gathering Best Practices: Guidance on asset mapping for digital equity planning.
- State Digital Equity Plan: External Best Practices: Examples of well-formed digital equity plans that may serve as helpful references.
- Notice of Funding Opportunity for State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program
- Digital Equity Act FAQs – BroadbandUSA: The official FAQ document on the DEA. Last updated on June 6, 2022.
- State & Local Government Resources – BroadbandUSA: Resources for state and local governments on digital equity and inclusion and broadband planning.
Other Guidance & Resources for State Digital Equity Planning
- Digital Equity Act Leads & Activities by State – World Education: A list of DEA administering entities and stakeholder engagement activities by state.
- Getting Started with Digital Equity Act Advocacy for Community-Based Organizations – World Education: A fillable, customizable worksheet to help community organizations connect five core areas of the DEA to their work so that they can better advocate for themselves to their state administering entities and leaders.
- Adult Education in Focus: An Annotated State Digital Equity Plan Template – World Education: Detailed guidance on 1) why adult learners need to be included in State Digital Equity Plans, and 2) how adult education can support the development and implementation of State Digital Equity Plans, section by section.
- State Digital Equity Plan Toolkit – National Digital Inclusion Alliance: Best practices, recommended processes, templates, and tools to support states in designing robust, comprehensive Digital Equity Plans.
- Using Data To Advance Digital Skills: A State Playbook – National Governors Association: Key questions and resources for state leaders to consider around digital skills gaps.
- Lessons Learned In Workforce Innovation: How Six States Are Planning To Advance Digital Skills For Equitable Economic Participation: Lessons learned and case studies from six states for governors and state policymakers working to bridge the digital divide, plus a framework for creating state plans to advance digital skills.
- Advancing Digital Equity for All: Community-Based Recommendations for Developing Effective Digital Equity Plans to Close the Digital Divide and Enable Technology-Empowered Learning – U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology: Guidance for state leaders on developing plans that meet the needs of learners, their families/caregivers, and communities.
- Affordable Connectivity Plan Enrollment and Digital Equity Planning – Benton Institute: Guidance for policymakers on how Affordable Connectivity Plan enrollment data can be used during a state’s Digital Equity Plan planning process.
- Expanding Digital Inclusion via the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – National Skills Coalition: Recommendations for state officials and skills advocates on using DEA funds to improve the economic and civic life of their communities.
- Digital Equity Planning: 10 Recommendations for States & Cities – Digitunity: Recommendations on developing systems to expand access to free and/or low-cost devices.
- Digital Equity State Playbook – Microsoft Airband: Guidance on DEA planning and program design for state offices.
- Examining Gaps in Digital Inclusion as States Develop Their Digital Equity Plans – American Immigration Council: Fact sheet with data to inform policymakers and advocates of the gaps in access to broadband internet among various covered individuals.
- Closing the Digital Divide Benefits Everyone, Not Just the Unconnected – Common Sense: An analysis of how universal connectivity benefits education, health care, government, and employment, plus recommendations for state broadband leaders.
- The State of Digital Equity – EveryoneOn: Recommendations to help guide state and local leaders as they allocate DEA funds in their communities.
- Bridging the Digital Divide: Policy Proposals to Increase Broadband Access for All – The NewDEAL Forum: Outlines initiatives and policy efforts to provide a blueprint for how other states and cities can tackle their broadband needs and inequities.
- Accelerate: A Community Broadband Planning Program – Benton Institute: A guide for state and local leaders engaging in community broadband planning and partnerships.
- Leverage Libraries to Achieve Digital Equity for All – American Library Association: Illustrates libraries’ longstanding work to advance digital equity and makes the case for policymakers to draw on the expertise of library professionals in designing state and local digital equity plans.
Promising Digital Inclusion Models and Resources
- Digital Resilience in the American Workforce: A national professional development initiative on digital literacy instruction for adult educators and other practitioners.
- Digital Navigators: A model providing just-in-time, one-to-one and small group dedicated support.
- Playbook and resources from Digital US
- Resources from National Digital Inclusion Alliance
- A Human Approach to Closing the Digital Divide – Boston Consulting Group: A report on the impact of digital navigators.
- Digital Skills Library: An open repository of free digital skills instructional resources for adults that can be searched by skill, language, and other criteria.
- Promoting Digital Literacy for Adult Learners: A Resource Guide – Barbara Bush Foundation: A peer-reviewed guide to support educators, tutors, and mentors who are working with adult learners on building digital literacy skills.
- California Adult Education Digital Learning Guidance – California Department of Education: A practical resource for educators who support the effective implementation of digital learning within adult education.
- Building the Technology Ecosystem for Correctional Education: Brief and Discussion Guide – U.S. Department of Education: Explores the technical, instructional, and other components necessary for expanding the use of technology in correctional education programs.
- New York State Library Digital Inclusion Toolkit – National Digital Inclusion Alliance: A guide for libraries seeking to increase access and adoption of technology in communities through digital skills training programs, access to public and home broadband, appropriate devices, technical support, and digital navigation services.
- Methodology for a Sustainable Device Ecosystem – Digitunity: Outlines the key elements and conditions that need to be in place to advance digital equity through ownership.
- Affordable Connectivity Program: An FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more.
- GetInternet.gov: A streamlined page for individuals seeking to apply to the ACP.
- Video on the ACP – World Education: A short video for community-based organizations explaining the basics of the ACP.
- Free & Low-Cost Internet Plans – National Digital Inclusion Alliance: A regularly updated list of affordable home internet plans, including ACP-only plans.
- Guide to low-income internet options and affordable internet plans – Allconnect: A comparison of affordable home internet options.
- Digital Equity Ecosystems Measurement Framework – Digital Equity Research Center: A framework that offers practical guidance to local coalitions working to advance digital equity and justice with their communities.
- Digital Integrators Pilot Program – Centri Tech Foundation: A nationwide program that fosters community-based solutions for digital advancement.
- Digital Equity Leadership Lab: A program for Baltimore community leaders seeking to increase their understanding of the internet and strengthen their ability to advocate for fast, affordable and reliable broadband for all of Baltimore’s neighborhoods.
- Pathways to Digital Equity: How Communities Can Reach Their Broadband Goals—and How Philanthropy Can Help – Benton Institute: A guidebook for community leaders and philanthropic organizations to help communities evaluate and meet specific connectivity needs.
Digital Equity and Inclusion Data
- Using Data To Advance Digital Skills: A State Playbook – National Governors Association: Key questions and resources for state leaders to consider around digital skills gaps.
- Examining Gaps in Digital Inclusion as States Develop Their Digital Equity Plans – American Immigration Council: Fact sheet with data to inform policymakers and advocates of the gaps in access to broadband internet among various covered individuals.
- NTIA Digital Nation Data Explorer: Tracks metrics from the NTIA Internet Use Survey.
- Digital Equity Data Dashboard – Microsoft Airband: Examines 20 indicators of digital equity, census tract by census tract.
- Digital Equity Scorecard – National Digital Inclusion Alliance: Data by state on specific digital inclusion metrics.
- Technology Gap Map – Digitunity: Data on technology gaps by state and county.
- Internet/Broadband Fact Sheet – Pew Research Center: Data on internet use nationwide.
- Exploring Digital Equity Fact Sheet Series – Institute for Local Self-Reliance: Six fact sheets on the issues, challenges, and opportunities around broadband and digital equity.
State/Local Digital Equity Plans and Guides
- State Digital Equity Plan: External Best Practices – Internet for All: Examples of well-formed digital equity plans that may serve as helpful references for state Digital Equity Plans.
- Digital Equity and Inclusion Map – BroadbandUSA: A map highlighting a digital equity and inclusion activities occurring in 40 different city and county governments.
- Digital Inclusion Trailblazers – National Digital Inclusion Alliance: An inventory of local government initiatives promoting digital literacy and broadband access for underserved residents.
- State of Hawaii – Digital Equity Ecosystem Map
- Southeastern Indiana – Digital Inclusion Plan
- Forsyth County, North Carolina – Digital Equity Plan
- Digital Inclusion Template & Guide – State of North Carolina: A template and guide to help communities create digital inclusion plans to reduce the digital divide and prioritize digital equity for their residents.
- San Francisco Digital Equity Playbook – City and County of San Francisco: Designed for social service providers who want to help their clients get connected or learn digital skills. It contains information on free access locations, discount Internet programs, training curriculum and strategies, and more.