Understanding the path to holistic, sustainable digital equity can be challenging. Strategies must be comprehensive and multifaceted and are unique to communities, individuals, and organizations. This page provides information and resources for digital equity practitioners and community organizers.
Digital equity focuses on the assurance that all aspects of the digital landscape are made accessible, navigable, sustainable, and available to all individuals in accordance with their needs. Digital equity comes from understanding that the existence of social and cultural disparities necessitates a wide-angle approach to assessing digital needs, as well as specialized and tailored interventions to meet those needs.
Frameworks that support digital equity are tools for empowerment. Empowerment is the process through which individuals and communities actively participate in decision-making that affects their lives. Through this process, they engage in and create opportunities that elicit personal and community transformation. This change is accomplished through working with others who are also acting to make a difference. Empowerment, as an instrument for equity, involves an increase in social and political efficacy through the development of skills and abilities necessary for effective participation.
Empowerment can be divided into two forms, static and dynamic (Meintjes, 1997). Static Empowerment may offer partial solutions, partial compensation, and partial opportunities to select individuals and communities, but it does not support the ability to own, direct, and implement policies and programs that bring about opportunities for equity, transformation, and sustainability. Conversely, Dynamic Empowerment enables individuals and communities to “own” and control the direction of policies, solutions, and programs that transform their daily lives while envisioning and creating conditions and systems that do not further limit opportunities. Digital Equity requires Dynamic Empowerment.
Dynamic Digital Empowerment is the process through which individuals and communities enact Dynamic Empowerment via participation in the creation and implementation of equitable digital ecosystems. Dynamic Digital Empowerment is based upon contributions from the Dynamic Empowerment Model (Dasa, 2023)- which was created for peace education – and the Digital Equity work of Merit. The DDE (Dynamic Digital Empowerment) Model has three components that support the creation of digital equity.
The first component is a comprehensive understanding of fairness (entailing equity). The second is the ability to express and reason for that fairness in and through community engagement and community building. The third is a focus on participation, action, and creation that is sustainable, transformative, and supportive of broader outcomes.
Merit offers Dynamic Digital Empowerment Recommendations to assist practitioners and stakeholders with leveraging its capacities. Although the DEE Recommendations are not exhaustive, they provide direction and support for those seeking to ensure digital equity.
Dynamic Digital Empowerment Recommendations
- Commit to approaches that are equity-focused, community held & driven, and sustainable & transformative
- Prioritize holistic and sustainable approaches to digital inclusion and digital equity
- Healthy digital ecosystems entail interdependent needs and priorities
- Frameworks like The Digital Opportunities Compass empower individuals, practitioners, and stakeholders through curating a comprehensive reservoir of tools to navigate the digital ecosystem
- Support CAIs, nonprofits, institutions of education, and grassroots organizations working to create and enable digital equity
- Promote digital literacy and awareness
- Utilize resources that remain abreast of digital knowledge, practices, applications, and policies
- Seek partnerships with entities that focus on digital literacy
- Find a way to implement digital literacy awareness in your communities
- Help normalize the fact that digital skills are now an inherent part of important activities of daily living (IADLs) and support initiatives to integrate skills training at all levels of society
- Form and support entities like Digital Equity Task Forces to increase community involvement and leveraging of community assets
- Digital Task Forces are inter-agency/inter-community groups focused on ensuring digital equity in their local digital ecosystems. Members can include individuals from all sectors of the community, including educators, healthcare professionals, business owners, farmers, municipal officials, non-profit leaders, and many others
- Recognize that the struggle for equity is an interdependent process that requires understanding, responsiveness, communication/dialogue, and the ability to evaluate and reconstruct our concept of fairness and approaches to it
- Encourage and champion the building of political will and engagement through active participation, organization, and implementation
- Build mechanisms to support environments that are free from ingroup bias, rhetoric, and divisive tactics that further disempower our communities
- Ingroup bias the propensity to reject/or fail to work with those who are not part of one’s identified social group
- Groupthink involves a mode of thinking that people engage in due to involvement in a cohesive ingroup, this thinking can limit motivation to consider alternative courses of action and, therefore, opportunities for collective empowerment may go unrecognized
These DDE Recommendations, as a starting point, are offered to assist individuals and communities with recognizing the components of Dynamic Digital Empowerment in their pursuit of best practices for digital equity.
References
Dasa, S. R. (2023). Dynamic Empowerment in Critical Peace Education: A Three Angle Approach [Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1682883807493382
Meintjes, G. (1997). Human rights education as empowerment: Reflections on pedagogy. In G. Andreopoutos and R. Claude (Eds.), Human rights for the twenty-first century (pp. 64-.79). Pennsylvania Press.
Traditionally, the concept of digital equity has been framed within the “digital inclusion triangle” of broadband connectivity, device access, and basic digital literacy. However, 25 years of research related to how broadband and device access, affordability, and digital skills relate to broader social and development outcomes has demonstrated that digital equity is achieved more sustainably when approached holistically.
Building on existing research, frameworks, and measurement tools, the Digital Opportunities Compass includes six components: Contexts, Governance, Connectivity, Skills, Application, and Outcomes. Each component includes indicators that have a bearing on the process and outcomes of digital equity initiatives “on the ground.”
This framework can be used to develop a digital opportunities strategy within your community or organization.
Merit is currently piloting a program to support the development of digital equity plans and measurement frameworks to support healthy digital ecosystems and grant narratives. To learn more, email HERE.
Further, the Benton Institute for Broadband and Society has published a robust examination of key principles to guide both the process and resulting visions of digital equity. Benton has included Merit’s Digital Equity Compass as a framework to support digital equity efforts in this report.
See Benton report here:
Visions of Digital Equity | Benton Institute for Broadband & Society
This section offers links to resources that outline the many sociodemographic, economic, and community level factors that affect digital equity initiatives. This means that geographic location, income, educational opportunities, and community involvement influence processes and outcomes related to digital equity acquisition.
Digital Advancement Institute | Centri Tech Foundation
The Digital Advancement Institute launched the Muni Index to demonstrate how cities’ investments in technology facilitate other factors that influence quality of life. This tool offers decision-makers the capacity to shape policies and make positive impacts for residents and regional neighbors.
2019 Digital Divide Index (DDI) – Purdue Center for Regional Development
Purdue University created the Digital Divide Index to assess three scores/aspects of digital equity which include the overall digital divide, infrastructure/adoption, and socioeconomic score. The index consists of ten indicators.
American Community Survey (ACS) (census.gov)
The United States Census Bureau offers the American Community Survey (ACS), a comprehensive source for population and housing information that helps local stakeholders understand the changes that are taking place in their communities.
The Opportunity Atlas, a collaboration between researchers at the Census Bureau, Harvard University, and Brown University, is a statistical report of social mobility data that helps users identify which U.S. neighborhoods offer the best chances of upward mobility. Through tracking data provided by 20 million Americans from childhood to their mid-30s, the Atlas highlights opportunities to develop solutions to help more children rise out of poverty.
Economic Tracker (tracktherecovery.org)
Opportunity Insights created the Economic Tracker which combines data from private companies to provide up to date information on indicators such as employment rates, job opportunities, and consumer spending. The tracker provides users with the capacity to identify economic issues as they emerge and develop effective, evidence-based solutions and policy responses.
Data Retrieval Tools (bls.gov)
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides data retrieval tools that include series reports, interactive maps, data finders, economic data and more.
ABCD Institute | DePaul University, Chicago
The Asset-Based Community Development Institute (ABCD) draws upon the strength and power of local residents, associations, and institutions to build asset based, sustainable, equitable communities. The institute offers numerous tools and resources for community builders.
Asset Mapping – National Digital Inclusion Alliance
The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) offers community asset mapping information and templates. NDIA uses data collection and documentation of the current state of digital equity to highlight and strengthen community solutions through identifying and mapping existing assets.
NDIA Coalition Guidebook (digitalinclusion.org)
NDIA created a 45 page digital inclusions coalition guidebook as a resource for practitioners working to advance digital equity. The guidebook is composed of input from 35 leaders from over 20 digital inclusion coalitions across the US.
Digital Equity Ecosystems Measurement Framework Report | Metropolitan New York Library Council
The Metropolitan New York Library Council presented The Digital Equity Ecosystems Measurement Framework, a 48 page framework in support of local coalitions working to build/grow sustainable digital equity ecosystems.
Achieving Digital Equity in New York: An Outline for Collaborative Change (nysed.gov)
The New York State Library presented a 47 page resource on achieving digital equity consisting of presentations, information, and expertise shared by national experts – in education, government, community, and business partners – during two digital equity summits.
Closing the Digital Divide in Black America (mckinsey.com)
McKinsey and Company created a five step plan to help close the digital divide in Black America which includes making explicit statewide commitment to digital inclusion, as well as comprehensive surveying of underserved areas to make sure funds reach the communities.
ACCESS BROADBAND Dashboard (census.gov)
The Census Bureau and NTIA created the ACCESS BROADBAND Dashboard in response to legislation requirements necessitating the release of economic impact estimates related to broadband deployment efforts. The dashboard offers insight into how changes in broadband availability and adoption could impact local economies.
The Federal Communications Commission compiled a report that examines broadband access and adoption by veterans throughout the nation, highlighting the statistics of low-income and veterans living in rural areas. The report also offers recommendations for promotion of access to broadband to empower veterans to participate in the digital economy.
State of the Digital Divide in the Hispanic Community – National League of Cities (nlc.org)
Hispanic Elected Official (HELO), a constituency group of The National League of Cities (NCL) explored the numerous challenges of the digital divide and its impact on Hispanic residents. To inspire actionable steps toward digital equity, HELO created a policy brief that outlines and proposes digital equity solutions for municipal leaders.
Governance
This section offers information on local, state, and federal policy and governance that directly impact and influence digital equity initiatives. The links provided also include policy recommendations from educational institutions, grassroots movements, nonprofits, and other community organizations.
Digital Inclusion Trailblazers – National Digital Inclusion Alliance
National Digital Skills Alliance (NDIA) created Digital Inclusion Trailblazers – a public inventory of local government initiatives promoting digital literacy and broadband access for underserved residents.
Digital Equity Scorecard (digitalinclusion.org)
NDIA and National Skills Coalition devised a digital equity score card that shows how (and to what extent) state governments are addressing digital equity.
PolicyMap | Mapping, Analytics, and Data Visualization
PolicyMap offers a state-of-the-art mapping and analytics platform through use of over 50,000 indicators. This technology provides the latest mapping technologies to communities and policy makers.
Accelerate: A Community Broadband Planning Program
The Accelerate community broadband planning program educates and supports community leadership teams as they create their community’s broadband vision and goals and pursue the best possible broadband solutions for their area.
The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society’s multimedia narratives shed light on the everyday experiences of those grappling with digital inequity—be it access to broadband networks, digital literacy, or affordable internet-connected devices.
ILSR’s Community Broadband News promotes locally rooted, democratically accountable broadband networks.
Connectivity
In this section are links to existing information on internet connectivity. Internet connectivity relates to infrastructure, accessibility, affordability, and adoption of internet service and network enabled devices.
Expanding Community Networks in Michigan
Expanding Community Networks in Michigan features information on access technologies, ways to navigate funding challenges, best practices for consensus building, how and where to get funding, success stories, and more.
Microsoft hosts a Digital Equity Dashboard that provides understanding of economic opportunity gaps across the United States. Through census tracking and examination of 20 different indicators of digital equity, it provides a comprehensive picture of digital equity in these areas.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services created a 117 page framework for building digital communities. The framework for action encourages engagement across all sectors of the community to ensure digital equity for individuals, businesses, and institutions.
Exploring Community Connectedness – Digitunity
The Digital Opportunity Network (Digitunity) created network maps for 10 cities across the US to help visualize relationships across sectors in effort to create opportunities for partnership in digital equity.
Rural Communities & Digital Device Ownership.pdf – Google Drive
Digitunity compiled a 17 page brief to raise awareness of digital disparities in rural communities, This specific report focuses on device ownership issues, highlighting the importance of large-screen devices.
Home | FCC National Broadband Map
The FCC offers a National Broadband Map that allows users to search by location/address to assess Broadband service in all locations throughout the United States.
Measurement Lab (M-Lab) provides a Speed Test that offers advanced diagnostics of the users’ broadband connection through quick measurements. Through the collaboration of research, industry, and public-interest partners, M-Lab’s Speed Test provides verifiable measurement of global network performance.
Digital Inclusion (communitydevelopmentmd.org)
Maryland offers a mapping tool that helps identify the geography of digital disconnectedness in the state. The map shows where high-speed subscription gaps exist, and by how much. Such mapping tools help with planning, funding, programming, digital literacy and can support overall digital equity.
Skills
Digital literacy, or the cultivation of skills, understanding, and comfort in use of digital technology is a huge component of digital equity. The attainment of these skills and knowledge is related to a broad range of activities centered around training and development. Several organizations and entities have developed programming to assist varying populations with the acquisition of digital skills.
DigitalLearn Organization offers tools to assist individuals with navigating digital technology. The online source provides courses on basic internet searches, email use, website navigation, internet privacy, and more.
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) offers a student section and ebook to empower students through providing standards for student-driven learning. These standards entail information on digital citizenship, empowered learning, knowledge construction, innovative design, computational thinking, creative communication, and global collaboration.
Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NICE Framework) | NICCS (cisa.gov)
The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies (NICCS) developed a nationally focused resource to assist employers in cybersecurity workforce development. The resource establishes and defines a common lexicon for cybersecurity work and workers across public, private, and academic sectors.
Digital Skills Library • Digital Skills Library
The Digital Skills Library is an open repository of free learning resources created to assist adult learners with development of digital skills.
The Roadmap for Racial Equity – National Skills Coalition
The New Landscape of Digital Literacy – National Skills Coalition
The National Skills Coalition offers a 58 page report on closing the digital skill divide.
Digital Navigator Model – National Digital Inclusion Alliance
NDIA created a digital navigator model that offers a replicable framework for organizations that provide digital inclusion services, as well as for those entering the digital inclusion space.
Digital Navigator Playbook – Digital US
Digital US offers a comprehensive digital navigator playbook which provides guidance and direction for partners currently planning to pilot digital navigator services across the country.
Application
This section offers resources related to the uses and application of digital connectivity and skills. The included links provide information on organizations and programs that exhibit dedication to digital equity through practical application of digital connectivity and skills.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services created a 117 page framework for building digital communities. The framework for action encourages engagement across all sectors of the community to ensure digital equity for individuals, businesses, and institutions.
The Bipartisan Policy Center compiled a report on findings from extensive telehealth research and Medicare data analysis to recommend policy decisions for telehealth. This 80 page report addresses the telehealth landscape and offers recommendations for foundational telehealth issues, behavioral health, primary care, and specialty services.
Privacy and Security • Digital Skills Library
The Digital Skills Library offers links to educational material related to cybersecurity. Their Privacy + Security Skills site provides tools for individuals to secure digital identity, recognize threats, and understand the comprehensive safety implications of navigating the digital environment.
The Tribal Resource Center is a hub of validated articles, links, videos, and people to assist tribal nations with adopting broadband technologies. Resources are vetted by tribal leaders and members, offering guidance for both the technical and human opportunities and challenges that come with high speed internet.
Workplace • Digital Skills Library
The Digital Skills Library’s Workplace Skills site provides numerous resources for advancement of success and professionalism. The resources include online job searching, project management, understanding databases and more.
Human-I-T is an online store that assists individuals with exploring online opportunities through providing access to personal technology and internet plans. Additionally, the store’s proceeds go toward diverting e-waste away from landfills.
PCs for People – Technology for Individuals, Families, and Nonprofits
PCs for People supports equal opportunity in the pursuit of digital equity though providing low- cost high-speed internet and refurbished computers to eligible customers. They also offer digital skills training and technical support to help individuals reach their potential through digital technology.
Tech Goes Home | Digital Equity | Training, Access, Technology
Tech Goes Home is an organization that offers programming that entails bringing computers, internet, and training to individuals of all ages throughout Massachusetts. TGH’s services include family-based programs, courses for entrepreneurs, and culturally-responsive digital skills training that empowers through greater access to and navigation of the digital landscape.