The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring that all Americans have access to affordable, reliable, high-speed Internet service.
As part of this goal NTIA has published a Request for Comment to help inform how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Digital Equity Act programs can work to achieve this national and community driven opportunity for change.
This Request for Comment is part of NTIA’s wider strategy to engage with partners, stakeholders, and most importantly, individuals with lived experiences who are impacted by the digital divide.
Merit, and our collaborators are preparing a joint response that addresses the critical nature of a shared framework to monitor and evaluate digital equity policy at the state and local level. We are proposing the Digital Opportunities Compass as one such approach. Furthermore, the Digital Opportunities Compass builds upon the measurable objectives of the IIJA in important ways, approaching digital equity more holistically. It builds on over 25 years of research and experience related to how broadband and device access, affordability, and digital skills relate to digital equity and broader social and development outcomes. This body or experience suggests that digital equity can be achieved more sustainably if the entire broadband ecosystem is considered.
As we craft a shared response, Merit would like to hear from our membership. Are there other ways digital exclusion impacts your community in addition to connectivity and device availability? Second, we are seeking interested members to sign on to our joint comments. Please let us know if you’d be interested in joining this cohort of educational institutions, nonprofits, municipalities, and community anchors.
Responses are due to the NTIA on May 1; your timely reply is appreciated.