Digital Inclusion Trailblazers is an honor roll of local government initiatives that promote digital literacy and broadband access for underserved residents. With support from Google Fiber and help from a Working Group of our affiliates, NDIA identifies local governments that are Digital Inclusion Trailblazers using six indicators, listed below, based on documentation submitted by the candidates. Trailblazers are models for other local governments to pursue digital inclusion efforts in their own communities. The six indicators are as follows:
With support from Google Fiber and help from a Working Group of our affiliates, there are now six indicators for a Digital Inclusion Trailblazer:
- Your local government has, or directly funds, at least one full-time staff dedicated to digital inclusion initiatives, policies and/or programs.
- Your local government has a digital inclusion plan or is in the process of developing a plan.
- Representatives of your local government participate in an open-access digital inclusion coalition.
- Your local government has conducted or plans to conduct and publish survey research on Internet access and use by your residents.
- Your local government directly funds community digital inclusion programming.
- Your local government is taking steps to increase affordability of home broadband service.
We invite any other local government that fits one or more of these indicators to apply to be a 2020 Digital Inclusion Trailblazer. The application form provides a check-list and documentation requirement for each indicator.
Sponsored By

Thank you to the NDIA Trailblazer Working Group:
Andrew Doan from NDIA, Bobby Coulter from Fresno Housing Authority, Cat Blake from Next Century Cities, Christopher Mitchell from Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Deb Socia from Next Century Cities, Delano Squires from OCTO, Delia Burke from City of Seattle, Devren Washington from Media Mobilizing Project, Edward Blayney from City of Louisville, Geoff Milliner from The Enterprise Center, Michelle Gibeault from University of Arkansas, Jennifer Terry from City of New Orleans, Jess George from Google Fiber, Munirih Jester from City of San Antonio, Amy Huffman from North Carolina Department of Information Technology, Angelina Panettieri from National League of Cities, Parisa Fatehi from Google Fiber, Rebecca Gibbons from City of Portland, Rebecca Kauma from City of Long Beach, Roberto Gallardo from Purdue University