Seizing the Moment: Closing the Digital Equity Gap

In this May 3, 2022 GLR Learning Tuesdays session, Amina Fazlullah, Senior Director of Equity Policy at Common Sense, opened the conversation with a description of the historical inequities in internet connectivity and access to devices for students in the United States. She also shared Common Sense’s work to map the impact of emergency funding streams as the pandemic unfolded.

Ji Soo Song, Broadband Advisor to the U.S. Department of Education, explained how the department has been working to ensure that the voices of education leaders, parents and nonprofits are included into the broadband development efforts that are expanding within states as a result of increased federal investments through various funding streams. Song shared information about the Digital Equity Education Roundtable (DEER) Initiative and issued a call to action for state and local education leaders to get involved in the development of broadband plans that are required in each state.

Fazlullah returned to introduce more resources that have been developed by Common Sense for communities to share with individuals and households about the American Connectivity Program, which helps reduce internet costs for qualifying families and provides financial supports for devices. She also discussed the Emergency Connectivity Fund, which allows schools and libraries to provide devices such as tablets, computers and home internet services to students and families.

Shawn Gross, Digital Equity Program Management Consultant at Baltimore City Schools, brought a local perspective to the session. Gross shared Baltimore’s journey to meet the needs of students and families during the pandemic. Baltimore has taken a strategic approach to measuring and monitoring its success and has been working with local partners such as the city, library and others to envision a municipal network where all families would have access to high-quality affordable or free internet acesss.

Soon after this session, President Biden and Vice President Harris announced changes to the Affordable Connectivity Program that will further reduce the cost and increase the speed of internet service to tens of millions of families. Information on eligibility and sign-up can be found at GetInternet.gov.