The Marconi Society is proud to produce this panel exclusively for Net Inclusion 2024.  

On-the-ground experts shared insights about how to build a digital equity mindset in their organization and ecosystem, the skills they need, as well as what is working in the areas they serve.

The panel included:

• Kathryn de Wit, Director of Broadband Research Initiative, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Moderator
• Charlotte Bewersdorff, VP of Community Engagement, Merit Network
• Ashley Pollard, Digital Inclusion Manager, City of Philadelphia
• Patricia Steward, Manager, Chicago Housing Authority
• Lucas Turpin, Executive Director, Digital Extension and Engagement, Oregon State University

Both Turpin and Steward participated in the Digital Inclusion Leadership Certificate, offered in partnership by the Marconi Society and Arizona State University.  This program played a key role in informing their plans and strategies.

Session highlights included: 

Kathryn de Wit kicked the panel off by discussing the involvement of The Pew Charitable Trusts in helping state broadband offices prepare for broadband funding programs.  This panel focuses on the support that state and local ecosystems provide to localize and sustain infrastructure development.  Our panelists’ insights about how the digital equity ecosystem works in their area provides an on-the-ground perspective. 

We must also remember that advocacy efforts for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) show the critical need to make the case for legislators about how programs benefit economic development in their communities and this is an area where The Pew Charitable Trusts will continue to engage.

The digital equity mindset is all about partnerships

Bewersdorff:  As the country’s oldest Research and Education Network (REN), Merit is a unique part of the digital equity ecosystem with strong ties to universities, the state and anchor institutions across Michigan.  The Michigan Moonshot  focuses on outreach around digital equity, moving Merit to operate at the scale to empower organizations in Michigan to “catch the football at the local level.”  Merit’s research-based programming includes initiatives around data, mapping, and analysis; education, resources, and funding; and infrastructure. This research focus is Merit’s differentiator and gave them “permission” to play in this space.  Key players in the Moonshot Initiative meet every six months to ensure that they are on track with programs and ecosystem participants to be where they need to be when funding hits.  

Pollard:  In Philadelphia, digital inclusion is about people first – it is about service delivery, such as enabling people to register to vote online or to sign their children up for pre-school online.    The city’s digital equity work sits in the Office of Innovation and Technology, includes up to three employees, and focuses on digital navigators, outreach and programs with schools and the ACP.  The city’s work is seeded in organizations that touch many parts of the community.  Digital navigators are a great example, as they come from organizations that serve specific segments including adult education, LatinX residents, seniors and youth.  Philadelphia’s local ecosystem is organized through the Digital Literacy Alliance (DLA), which includes city departments, anchor institutions and schools.  The city provides $10,000 – $20,000 grants to pilot different ideas in the community, including a recent grant focused on digital skills training for low literacy adults.

Steward:  The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) serves 64,000 households and is committed to improving the lives of residents and working with low income families to provide affordable connectivity, devices, and digital literacy through a one-stop shop and wrap-around services.  Initially, support for connectivity, devices, and digital literacy were all happening in different parts of CHA, requiring residents to make multiple calls and coordinate their own digital equity journey.  By bringing these services together, residents can make one call to receive help in all of the areas where they need it.  CHA also provides wrap-around services and events with a focus on home ownership, youth employment and increasing family income.  These include Level Up, which increases average income by $6,000, and comprehensive training designed to help residents feel comfortable with digital technology.  “You have to have a passion for this work,” Steward tells us.

Turpin:  As a statewide service provider, Oregon State University’s Digital Extension and Engagement organization approaches digital equity as an interdisciplinary opportunity.  While the team operates with a staff of two, they leverage long-standing partners and political relationships.  A large part of activating the statewide ecosystem is building a baseline of understanding about digital equity.  “Everyone comes from a different pathway and that creates a lot of knowledge gaps and need to understand where and when they fit into the system,” Turpin tells us.  Oregon needs to bring 120,000 people online and succeeding with even two-thirds of that group creates a significant need for digital literacy in order to help people successfully use connectivity in a safe way.  His organization will focus on addressing digital equity even before BEAD funding is distributed by helping people get comfortable with devices and trained to use them safely even before they have access at home.   

We need to understand the entire field to move forward effectively

Bewersdorff:  It is critical to fund for success from the beginning.  For Merit, empowering digital equity meant understanding where the gaps in knowledge are and how to be a force magnifier.  Merit added B2C to their traditional B2B mindset, including a strong understanding of how to communicate with local audiences.  It is also critical that this work be deep and meaningful and that we protect it from becoming a “check box” item.

Pollard:  At the city level, you will always have different perspectives.  You need to constantly educate and create new champions as mayors change.  This means that you need early advocates to infuse digital equity values into an organization that has diverse views and objectives.  Sustainable funding is also critical for building trust with residents – when funding is given and then taken away, such as pandemic relief, it harms the relationship between the city and residents.  Discontinuing the ACP will make it difficult to regain trust.

Steward:  Having an understanding and experience across all areas of digital equity is so important.  The Digital Inclusion Leadership Certificate provides background in all parts of digital equity and helps to build confidence around technology and infrastructure.  Understanding the full picture helps digital equity leaders organize in the right way and contribute even more to planning and implementation.  With the discontinuation of ACP, cities and consumer-facing organizations will need to help mobilize residents to make the case for affordable connectivity directly.

Turpin:  Knowledge of the whole space is essential.  Digital equity is a rapidly growing area and most people come to this work with passion and with an understanding of their individual slice.  Very few people know how the pieces fit together, what role they play in the context of the ecosystem, and when.  Organizations need to know who they are receiving from and handing off to.  Tailored messaging and code switching are critical so that you can talk with people about what is most important to them.