States are using their digital equity plans to demonstrate how successful digital inclusion efforts can advance progress toward other goals, including improvements to civic and social engagement, economic development, education, health care, and delivery of essential services. For example, broader availability of affordable high-speed internet and digital skills can help residents access government services online, apply for jobs, take online classes, and use telehealth resources. Although these tasks are not the direct focus of the federal Digital Equity Act, measures that boost broadband adoption will enable more households to reap the benefits of the digital economy.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 included $2.75 billion for digital equity initiatives, including the Digital Equity Planning Grant and Digital Equity Capacity Grant programs. All 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico created Digital Equity Plans under the planning grant program. These plans now inform their applications for funding through the capacity grant program, which is intended to “promote the achievement of digital equity, support digital inclusion activities, and build capacity for efforts by States relating to the adoption of broadband by residents of those States.”
States are designing programs to assess the full impact of connectivity on households. The Digital Equity Planning Grant Notice of Funding Opportunity required alignment between broadband policies and broader state policy goals. The Pew Charitable Trusts reviewed these plans for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The findings highlight the direct and indirect impact that digital equity goals can have on a wide range of policy areas.
Civic and social engagement
States are emphasizing the importance of digital inclusion to ensuring equita …
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