Visions of Digital Equity

All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico are currently working on digital equity plans. One key component of the plans is the development of states’ visions for digital equity. These efforts are the initial state-level planning and envisioning at this scale and scope. This project focuses on the unique opportunity for states to craft their visions for digital equity. The best visions of digital equity will be community centered and focused on creating change, specific and clearly articulated, and ambitious but attainable. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)  has specifically advised states to “lead with equity,” intentionally identifying, amplifying, and centering the voices of those most affected by the digital divide and disconnected communities. With the extraordinary task and responsibility of state policymakers and local communities in mind, we undertook this project to aid both in ensuring that more community voices are heard in crafting visions that increase opportunity for all. Digital equity work did not begin, nor will it end, with this time of historic federal funding. Digital equity advocates around the country have been working for many years to close the digital divide. This project draws on the expertise of national and local experts in this field. Through surveys, community meetings, interviews, conversations, and a collaborative writing process with community contributors, we have arrived at 11 Principles for Digital Equity Visions, organized around five themes, to help guide both the process and the resulting visions of digital equity.