COVID-19 Resources
Organizations that already focused on access to the internet and devices (public use and in the home) plus digital literacy training, now find themselves working around the clock. Organizations that did not provide this digital inclusion programming now find themselves figuring out how to do so, again around the clock. Most of this work is local and none of them have enough resources.
NDIA is:
- Facilitating virtual spaces for information sharing
- Relaying on the ground experiences and federal resource needs to the media
- Advocating for local, state and federal resources
Community Calls
To help our community stay informed during this chaotic time – NDIA is hosting Community Zoom calls the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month at 1 PM ET. During these calls, we will share national resources and on-the-ground strategies for providing digital inclusion services during this health crisis.
REGISTER HERE if you would like to join.
"The inequities in all our education systems are going to be even worse," says @angelasiefer of @netinclusion. https://t.co/xmZVwggRAw
— CityLab (@CityLab) March 24, 2020
The onset of a global health pandemic has put a spotlight on digital inclusion. NDIA is documenting State Government Responses and Local Government Responses to encourage other governments to address access to the internet (particularly at home), personal computers and tablets, and tech assistance. These initiatives are in addition to the FCC’s Keeping American’s Connected Pledge.
The COVID-19 health crisis has shed light on the need for home internet service, and the large number of American households in all kinds of communities who don’t have it. Some Internet Service Providers have responded with new or improved discount broadband plans, that will only be available for a short time; others continue to offer plans that were created prior to the crisis. NDIA updates the list of Free & Low-Cost Internet Plans regularly.
This ten-episode series showcases interviews with digital inclusion stakeholders and practitioners from across the country highlighting their community-based efforts to address the digital divide. In the first four episodes, the digital inclusion practitioners talk about how they have pivoted and adapted their organizations and digital inclusion work amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Angela Addresses the Digital Equity Landscape on iHeartMedia
In the News
Part One:
Part Two:
Latest News
House Democrats’ COVID relief bill includes Emergency Broadband Benefit
The new, three trillion dollar COVID-19 relief proposal (the “HEROES act”) unveiled yesterday by Democratic leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives includes $8.8 billion to fund an Emergency Broadband Benefit for consumers who are eligible for Lifeline phone...
Fourteen local governments featured as 2020 Digital Inclusion Trailblazers
Fourteen municipal governments across the U.S., ranging in size from New York City to Provo, Utah, are featured in NDIA's new roster of Digital Inclusion Trailblazers for 2020. Released at a time when COVID-19 has forced many communities to confront their own digital...
House Dems’ broadband plan is comprehensive: Includes digital equity funding, home internet payment help
Democratic Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, led by Majority Whip James Clyburn (SC) and Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (NJ), yesterday announced the outline of a "Plan to Connect All Americans to Affordable Broadband Internet" that...
Healthcares Rapid Shift to Telehealth
The American Medical Association recently published a blog by NDIA Senior Fellow Amy Sheon called, The Digital Divide- Telehealth's Achillie's Heal. She shares with NDIA why she wrote it and what she hopes it accomplishes: As you know, healthcare rapidly shifted from...
217 organizations, 100,000+ petition signers call for affordable broadband measures in COVID-19 stimulus
The National Digital Inclusion Alliance today joined 216 other public interest, government, industry, civil rights, rural advocacy, and academic groups -- alongside schools and libraries -- in a letter to Congressional leaders calling for forthcoming COVID-19 stimulus...
Angela on Community Broadband Bits Podcast
Digital Inclusion Saves Lives During a Pandemic - Community Broadband Bits Episode 405 During this 31 minute episode, Christopher Mitchell from Institute of Self Reliance talks with Angela Siefer about the many ways that the pandemic has highlighted digital divides in...
NDIA Announces Digital Navigator Concept
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a sudden, massive public need for trustworthy digital inclusion services. Millions of Americans need support from digital inclusion programs: to get connected with affordable home internet, find affordable computing devices, and learn...
NDIA Creates State and Local Governments Lists for COVID-19 Resources
Some 18 million Americans do not have access to broadband internet in any form, presenting significant economic and health risks during the COVID-19 pandemic. NDIA has created a State-wide COVID-19 Digital Inclusion Response page, and a Local Government COVID-19...
Siefer to Ars Technica: No alternative to a federal broadband subsidy
NDIA is cited frequently in an article posted this week by Ars Technica on the differences and gaps in free and low-cost plans being offered by some major Internet Service Providers in response to the COVID-19 crisis. The online journal's Jon Brodkin points out that...
Urgent Call for Computer Donations!
Across America, the need for internet, computers, and digital literacy is acute and urgent.In order to stop the spread of COVID-19, schools, libraries, offices and gathering places across the country are being closed. This requires that everyone uses the internet at...