Digital Literacy

The digital equity movement is at a turning point. After nearly two decades of tireless work by community leaders, advocates, and public agencies to close the digital divide, key federal programs intended to drive long-term progress are unraveling. The cancellation of the Digital Equity Act by this administration and the ending of the Affordable Connectivity Program has left communities with fewer tools and less funding just as momentum was building.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency now requires disaster survivors to register for federal aid using an e-mail address—a change from previous policy that made an e-mail address optional. While the move is intended to modernize and streamline the process of applying for disaster aid, it risks blocking vulnerable populations from accessing critical federal assistance in the wake of disasters. How does the move put disaster victims at risk, and what can communities—and FEMA—do to ensure folks can still get the assistance they need? 

Applications are open for the second round of the Digital Opportunities to Connect Kansans program, Governor Laura Kelly announced. In the second round, $1.95 million in funds will be available for programs designed to enhance the digital skills of state residents. The DOCK program is designed to promote access to digital resources by providing awards to help with funding for digital skills development programs across Kansas.

Inside a small house in the Parkchester neighborhood of the Bronx, seven Bangladeshi women sat around a large table earlier this month, trying to figure out how to mute themselves on Zoom. It was the first time many were using the video conferencing software. “ We should always stay mute until our turn to talk,” instructor Sakib Shikder told the class.

A well-planned program is only effective if people are aware of it, highlighting the crucial role that marketing and outreach play in the success of your digital navigator program. Shannon O’Brien, a digital navigator with the National Digital Navigator Corps from Washington State University – Grays Harbor Extension, was “surprised at how much program development and marketing were needed when starting out.

Access to education, resources, and training will determine who will understand how societal use of artificial intelligence (AI) will impact them, and who will be able to safely and effectively leverage AI tools. Without AI literacy, an individual may be unable to identify or challenge unfair practices, be more susceptible to AI-aided scams, unprepared to vet answers produced by AI, unable to protect personal information, or spend time and effort working inefficiently because they do not know how to leverage AI tools.

The Center for Digital Equity released its Fiscal Year 2025 Impact Report. Highlights from the report include:

Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) called on Arielle Roth, the recently confirmed Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), to fulfill her responsibility to fully implement programs authorized and funded by Congress—specifically, the Digital Equity Act and the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. Senator Luján urged Roth to make her first act as Administrator the immediate restoration of suspended digital equity grants and the release of approved federal funding to connect all New Mexicans to broadband.

The Northeast Ohio Regional Digital Opportunity Alliance, which includes the Cuyahoga County Public Library, was planning to increase the number of digital navigators in 2025. It was part of a larger plan to expand efforts to close the digital equity gap.

A wave of funding cuts risks digital skills training, device access, and navigator programs that help unconnected Americans get online and meaningfully use the internet. Meeting this challenge will take creativity and cross-sector partnerships — but if we succeed, it could power the digital inclusion sector’s next chapter. It’s been a hard year for digital inclusion. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) has ended. The Digital Equity Act (DEA) funds so many fought for have been cancelled.