Jun 8, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Francella Ochillo, Digital Divide, Digital Inclusion
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization that serves economic development officers nationwide. Its 2021 Future Economic Forum conference focused on fostering regional innovation, economic...
May 25, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Corian Zacher, Digital Divide, State Policy
In 2017, the West Virginia legislature created the West Virginia Broadband Enhancement Council within the West Virginia Department of Commerce. The Council has since released its Broadband Strategic Plan for 2020-2025 and a companion Broadband Development Guide, which...
May 25, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Lukas Pietrzak, Digital Divide, Local Policy
The Commonwealth of Virginia is home to some of the greatest geographic and economic diversity in the country. From the nation’s capital to the Chesapeake Bay and the Appalachian Plateau, Virginia can feel like a different state at all four corners. Despite this...
May 25, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Lukas Pietrzak, Digital Divide
To appreciate challenges associated with closing the digital divide, readers need only to turn their attention to Tennessee. Across the state, local leaders, advocates, and Internet service providers have been working for years to plan and implement broadband...
May 25, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Corian Zacher, Digital Divide, Digital Inclusion, State Policy
Since 2013, E2D (“Eliminate the Digital Divide”) has worked to refurbish devices, promote digital literacy, and work toward the goal of ensuring that everyone in Charlotte, North Carolina, has equitable access to the digital tools and training they need to succeed in...
May 25, 2021 | Blog Entry, Broadband Mapping, By Ryan Johnston, Digital Divide, State Policy
It’s no mystery that the quality of the Federal Communications Commission’s (“FCC”) mapping data leaves something to be desired. The FCC’s 14th Broadband Deployment Report estimated that 96% of Americans have access to broadband. However, organizations such as...
May 25, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Corian Zacher, By Ryan Johnston, COVID-19, Digital Divide, Emergency Broadband Benefit, Federal Policy, Treasury Department
The State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (“SLFRF”) is a $350 billion emergency fund to be used by eligible state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to support the populations hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 10, 2021, the U.S. Department of the...
May 24, 2021 | Blog Entry, By NCC Staff, COVID-19, Digital Divide, Emergency Broadband Benefit, Federal Policy
Last week marked the beginning of enrollment for the Federal Communications Commission’s (“FCC”) Emergency Broadband Benefit. The program offers a monthly discount to offset the cost of broadband Internet subscriptions, helping those who are struggling with...
May 20, 2021 | Blog Entry, COVID-19, Digital Divide, Guest Blogger
By Haley Bailey | The digital divide has always been a huge issue, but the pandemic has managed to push it into the spotlight. For example, the International Telecommunication Union’s study, in collaboration with UNICEF, found that two-thirds of the world’s...
May 17, 2021 | Blog Entry, Digital Divide
On the May 6th, 2021, episode of The Divide, Nicole Ferraro interviewed Next Century Cities Executive Director, Francella Ochillo. Acknowledging that the digital divide poses unique challenges in each community, Francella highlighted that there is a general consensus...
