Seniors/Aging Individuals

Finding sustainable, low-cost ways to care for the elderly population is a problem Texas is all too familiar with and Japan, home to the world’s largest over-65 population at 36 million, is beating Texas in solving. Chronic workforce shortages along with rising costs to care for a growing older population have prompted Japan—from companies to local governments—to heavily invest in technology to make it easier for family members to remotely monitor the elderly.

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.

Approximately 6 percent of elderly adults have insufficient resources to meet their basic needs. While this rate is similar to other age groups, elderly poverty is particularly troubling because their financial lives are often intertwined with their health, and deterioration in either can create significant burdens for the social safety net and younger generations. This policy brief will outline the problem of poverty among older adults and why action is needed.

Public Knowledge, UnidosUS, and the National Digital Inclusion Alliance released a new report on digital equity policy. The Blueprint for Equitable Digital Participation was designed to center the lived experiences of those directly impacted by digital inequities. The Blueprint illuminates the systemic barriers faced by communities most impacted by the digital divide and proposes a variety of effective policy solutions that empower consumers and ensure sustainable f

Angela Siefer discusses the impact the cancellation of Digital Equity Act funds has had on digital equity and inclusion organizations and initiatives over the last year, and the ongoing efforts underway to get that funding restored. Those efforts include the National Digital Inclusion Alliance's decision to sue the Trump administration over the canceled program.

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.

If the U.S. wants to lead in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, we need a connected, digitally skilled public. Building infrastructure is only half the equation—people need the tools, training and support to actually use it. The $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program is still deploying physical broadband infrastructure; without the Digital Equity Act’s companion $2.75 billion investments in digital adoption and skills, much of that infrastructure risks going underutilized.

On May 15, 2026, Pope Leo XIV issued an encyclical letter, Magnifica Humanitas (or The Grandeur of Humanity), which could be regarded as the most comprehensive statement yet from the Catholic Church—an institution with approximately 1.4 billion members worldwide—on the governance of artificial intelligence.

The Fiber Broadband Association announced a strategic initiative with Older Adults Technology Services from AARP, which powers their flagship Senior Planet program, to expand high-speed fiber connectivity and digital skills training to older Americans across the country. By combining infrastructure investment with education and engagement, the initiative helps address both access and adoption, two critical components of digital equity. The collaboration brings together FBA’s nationwide network of fiber providers and OATS’ proven Senior Planet pr

This week, thousands of broadband industry stakeholders gathered at the Fiber Broadband Association's Fiber Connect 2026 conference in Orlando, Florida, to discuss the future of fiber broadband. The theme of this year's Fiber Connect, "Light Years Ahead," describes fiber as the conduit that "carries every part of life with it: faster learning, better health, smarter communities, [and] stronger economies." With this in mind, Fiber Connect attendees convened to discuss what lies ahead for U.S.