The Foundation of EdTech Is Connection: Ensuring Universal Access to the Internet

The June 3, 2025 GLR Learning Tuesday’s webinar, The Foundation of EdTech Is Connection: Ensuring Universal Access to the Internet, gathered leading voices from policy, philanthropy, education, and community development to explore the enduring relevance of digital connectivity in 2025. Moderated by Ji Soo Song of State Educational Technology Directors Association, the conversation opened with a legislative overview, emphasizing that internet access remains a fundamental component of educational equity and social participation. Amina Fazlullah of Common Sense Media set the stage by debunking the post-pandemic myth that connectivity is no longer a concern. She highlighted that over 16 million students still face a persistent digital divide, with massive implications for both individual opportunity and national economic health. Kristen Corra, J.D., of Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition detailed key federal programs like E-Rate and the threat posed by congressional efforts to roll back recent expansions, including hotspot lending for students and families. 

As the panelists dug into what the digital divide looks like today, Bree MacPhee Lyon from EducationSuperHighway emphasized the affordability gap saying, “Infrastructure and access are so critical, but the affordability piece is just as critical.” She warned that without a permanent affordability benefit 16 to 19 million households could remain offline. 

The conversation shifted to solutions, highlighting community-driven innovations and partnerships whose stories illustrated that the divide is not simply a matter of infrastructure — it is shaped by awareness, affordability, and trust. Kiarra Louis of The Patterson Foundation shared that digital access challenges affect entire families, not just students, and described how their Digital Access for All initiative uses hyperlocal engagement, including events at laundromats. She explained the importance of this approach saying, “The magic really does first happen when people know what’s available. There’s a spark that’s lit, but it really shines when we help them make most of the resources that exist.”

Licia Villalta of the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles spotlighted their Digital Ambassadors program, a model for youth leadership and workforce development that both teaches digital skills and builds human infrastructure for sustained engagement. Villalta explained the impact saying, “When we center [youth] voices and we bring them to the table, we don’t just close the digital divide, but we transform it into a bridge of opportunity for the rest of our communities that need it the most.”

The panel also explored forward-looking policy solutions. Fazlullah and Lyon stressed the importance of advocacy at the state and federal levels, calling for sustained investment in programs such as E-Rate, the Affordable Connectivity Program, and the Digital Equity Act, and urging participants to catalog stories and data to influence future policy decisions and to advocate to decision-makers.