Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day announced that applications are open for the Office of Statewide Broadband’s new Computer Labs Program. The new digital equity program will administer $2 million in grants to local governments and other partners to support the creation and expansion of computer labs and centers. Part of the Connect Maryland initiative to provide all Marylanders with affordable and equitable access to high-speed internet, these computer labs will provide public access to technology devices like computers and broadband for vulnerable and underserved Marylanders. The Computer Labs Program will provide grants of up to $65,000 for the construction of new computer labs or upgrading and retrofitting of existing labs and centers throughout Maryland.

A new two-year, $2.5 million project funded by the N.C. Department of Information Technology (NCDIT), in collaboration with North Carolina Central University, will enable the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation’s Program Evaluation and Educational Research (PEER) Group and Digital Learning team to lead the effort in managing and supporting initial planning and implementation of the North Carolina Digital Equity Plan. The Digital Learning team will be collaborating with NCDIT’s Office of Digital Equity and Literacy to identify and define digital literacy standards, including online health and safety for all North Carolina residents, launch and support a digital navigator network of community-based digital leaders, and design and deploy curriculum around the digital literacy standards to foster digital literacy among all residents regardless of age, geography or experience.

President Joe Biden and China’s leader Xi Jinping met for just under two hours on November 16, marking the end to their 15-year diplomatic relationship and ushering in a new era of uncertainty as Donald Trump prepares to return to office. The two leaders agreed to avoid giving artificial intelligence control of nuclear weapons systems, and they made progress toward the release of the two U.S. citizens behind bars in China that the State Department considers “wrongfully detained.” Biden also pressured Xi to rein in North Korea’s support of Russia in its conflict with Ukraine. Biden is looking for ways to emergency-proof the U.S.-China relationship before Trump takes over the White House. The substantive meeting was a sign that both leaders were trying to make the most of Biden’s remaining few weeks in office. The surprise agreement on AI marks a breakthrough in the Biden administration’s efforts over the past four years on issues of nuclear safety and proliferation.

President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, wasted no time in stating his priorities. Just one hour after thanking the president for the appointment, Carr wrote on X, “We must dismantle the censorship cartel and restore free speech rights for everyday Americans.” The comments from Carr, who wrote the chapter on the FCC in the conservative blueprint Project 2025, signaled that it won’t be business-as-usual at the country’s communications regulatory agency. Past chairs of the agency, both Republicans and Democrats, have emphasized broadband internet deployment and wireless spectrum policy. Carr didn’t mention those issues. Instead, he took aim at technology companies for “censorship;” promised to hold broadcast TV and radio stations accountable; and pledged to end the FCC’s promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

In October and November, the SHLB Coalition received seven outstanding nominations for our annual board election. Midway through the election season, one of our current board members unexpectedly stepped down due to personal health reasons, increasing our open seats from two to three. One of these seats is always designated for a staff member at an Anchor Institution. Voting ran through November 5. After validating and tallying the results, we discovered a tie for the second spot—an unexpected but welcome coincidence, given our newly available third seat! Without further ado, we are excited to announce the three winners of the 2024 SHLB Board election:

• Michael Wallace, University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, Institute for Digital Health & Innovation, e-Link
• Carrie Coogan, Kansas City Public Library (Anchor Institution)
• Rogelio Zambrano, LA County Office of Education (Anchor Institution)

Each will begin a full three-year term on January 1, 2025. Please join us in warmly welcoming our newest board members and in extending our gratitude to all the nominees for their dedication and passion for SHLB’s mission.