Lessons from the Social Impact Evaluation of Project OVERCOME

US Ignite partnered with the National Science Foundation and Schmidt Futures to design Project OVERCOME and test creative solutions to connect the unconnected. Project OVERCOME’s design ensured careful consideration of both the technical requirements of broadband access and the community collaboration, outreach, and engagement needed to explore sustainable success. By providing free or low-cost broadband to users as a part of the study and measuring targeted outcomes via a survey, we identified the impact of Project OVERCOME on Internet adoption. Key findings from Project OVERCOME include the following:

• Increased support from community members and Internet service providers is crucial for improving digital literacy and reaping the benefits of broadband deployment for disadvantaged populations.
• Providing access to the Internet is not enough to address digital inequality; policymakers must also promote digital literacy and provide resources and support for underserved communities to participate in the economy and shape their communities.
• The study found that informal help from family and friends is not effective in increasing Internet use, highlighting the importance of systematic help and training provided by organizations.