Digital Literacy

On June 25, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched a new proceeding that could fundamentally reshape—or potentially end—one of the federal government's primary tools for closing the digital divide. The FCC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the E-Rate program asks some of the most consequential questions the program has faced in its nearly 30-year history: Has E-Rate fulfilled its mission? Should eligibility be narrowed? Should funding levels change?

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the North Carolina Department of Information Technology announced three new programs to improve the digital infrastructure of rural health care through new digital solutions and tools.

In Caldwell County (TX), some residents are still struggling to keep up in an increasingly digital world. With broadband access lagging behind neighboring metro counties, older residents in particular are feeling the strain. Now, the Martindale Community Library is stepping in to help close that gap.

The National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors announced the recipients of NATOA’s 2026 Community Broadband and Digital Equity Awards, recognizing innovative projects in government, business and local communities nationwide. The 2026 Community Broadband Award recipients are:

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved more than $18.2 million in support of broadband infrastructure deployment, regional broadband planning efforts, and digital equity and inclusion programs that will expand connectivity and digital opportunity for Californians across the state.

In the wake of the hurricanes and flooding that affected North Carolina in 2024, Rebecca Jinnette, a digital skills agent with North Carolina Cooperative Extension, has worked to close digital skill gaps in communities impacted by disasters. Through training, technical support, and guidance, she helps residents access information and resources on disaster preparedness and recovery. Between April 15, 2024, and May 18, 2026, Jinnette delivered 345 informational class sessions.

In our current age, we are all constantly learning, growing, and navigating a rapidly changing digital landscape. This reality has created a growing need for support systems that help people build confidence in the digital world. Ensuring that everyone can participate fully in that landscape requires intentional, community-based resources.

The wait is finally over: with nearly $20 billion in federal funding flowing to states, millions of people will get the connectivity they need. From education to healthcare, the ripple effects on our economy and daily lives will be monumental. But there’s a catch. This investment only delivers for communities that are prepared to meet it. Over the past year, Connected Nation visited some of America’s most underserved communities—from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to far West Texas—to educate, listen, and share information. The specifics varied by geography, but the pattern did not.

For many of the learners we support, getting online is a powerful milestone. It creates access to jobs, education, healthcare, services, and connection. But digital inclusion is not just about helping people connect to the internet. It is also about helping them develop healthy, informed, and responsible relationships with technology once they are online. That is why conversations about social media use, misinformation, and digital well-being are becoming more important to digital literacy work.

The third installment in the National Digital Inclusion Alliance's (NDIA) three-part series on digital inclusion program sustainability focuses on data collection and evaluation practices. The brief, titled “Advancing Digital Inclusion Program Sustainability Through Data Collection and Evaluation,” outlines six best practices for program evaluation that all digital inclusion programs should consider.