Community Stories
Connected Journeys: Stories of Broadband and Digital Equity
Connected Journeys: Stories of Broadband and Digital Equity
Aug 6, 2024
In 2021 when the pandemic was raging, President Joe Biden led a bipartisan effort to pass the Affordable Connectivity Program as part of the Infrastructure Act so low-income families would have subsidized internet service.
The American Indian Policy Institute is home to the newly formed Center for Tribal Digital Sovereignty, formed in partnership with the National Congress of American Indians. This Center is the first and only one in the nation dedicated to helping tribal governments, leadership, and communities understand the complexities of digital sovereignty. It provides access to resources and serves as a clearinghouse for tribal digital sovereignty. The center works towards the following goals and concepts: scholarship, capacity building, policy research and advocacy, and forming a coalition of organizations that work together to support tribes.
The Arizona Memory Project (AMP) helps researchers discover information related to the history and government of Arizona by providing access to primary sources in Arizona archives, museums, libraries, and other cultural institutions
June 18, 2024
Phoenix’s plan, if approved, would add a new section to the city code to provide the rules for licensing and transactions between the city and companies who build and operate fiber-optic networks.
Jun 14, 2023
The Biden administration on June 12 announced it will send $714 million to help rural areas in 19 states connect to the internet, including $25 million for the Colorado River Indian Tribes.
June 6, 2024
The world has increasingly become more digital. From remote work to online education programs and even telehealth services, our interactions are highly enabled by technology. However, this isn’t a reality for all…yet. Take, for example, a retiree who needs to schedule a doctor's appointment but does not know how to access their provider’s website portal. Or a family whose device isn’t working properly and restricting access to internet services that many of us use to work, learn and live online.
The Community Broadband Networks (CBN) initiative is a program of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a national research and advocacy nonprofit focused on fighting corporate control and building an American economy driven by local priorities. CBN works with a diverse group of allies, partners, and local communities on policies to improve local Internet access. We also research and document what communities around the country are doing to improve access to high-quality broadband networks.
AT&T has been involved in numerous initiatives related to digital equity. Through its "AT&T Connect All" program, the company aims to bridge the digital divide by providing affordable internet access and devices to underserved communities. AT&T also offers workforce training programs and supports STEM education initiatives.
A team of technologists at ASU have launched maps and resources for connecting Arizonans.
With Sun Corridor Network, Digital Equity Institute and TRIAD WIRELESS, L.L.C. teams onsite to meet community members and help them get started
NOVEMBER 1, 2023
The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program will only succeed if every penny is wisely spent. This includes ensuring that subgrantees have the capacity not just to build and deploy high-speed Internet networks but to operate those networks for years to come, delivering Internet connectivity to areas that for too long have been left behind.
Benton provides the only free, reliable, and non-partisan daily digest that curates and distributes news related to universal broadband, while connecting communications, democracy, and public interest issues.
Bipartisan infrastructure law led by Sinema and shaped by Kelly provides over $28.4 million to deliver broadband to underserved communities in Arizona
The grant allocated a total of $75.7 million to 14 awardees in rural counties and $23.6 million to six awardees in urban counties, spurring $112.8 million in local matching funds.
The Institute for Local Self-Reliance has a vision of thriving, diverse, equitable communities, promoting locally rooted, democratically accountable broadband networks that provide fast, affordable, and reliable Internet access to all Americans.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting parents, educators, and young people in navigating the digital landscape. While they offer unbiased reviews and advice on media content, a significant part of their mission centers on promoting digital literacy and citizenship. They provide educational resources and programs to foster responsible online behavior, ensuring that children and families are equipped with the tools and knowledge for a safe and enriching digital experience.