Last Updated on August 15, 2024 by Todd O'Neill
- 60 countries sign declaration to keep future internet open
- Lofty, non-binding declaration aims for an open, free, interoperable internet in the face of authoritarian threats.
The United States, along with some 60 other countries, today presented a declaration in which they pledge to “reclaim the promise of the internet” from “a trend of rising digital authoritarianism.” “The Register.” Published April 2022. - Building Equitable Access and Inclusion for Children Growing up in the Digital Age
- Beginning during infancy, digital media are a pervasive part of family life, affecting opportunities to learn and time in family relationships. Research showing the potentially negative impacts of media on very young children led to recommendations of restricted media usage. Other research has examined how educational media can promote child outcomes and well-being. However, stark issues of digital inequity remain. Many families experience underconnectivity, with both income and geography limiting access to adequate bandwidth. Finally, cracks in the democratic structure of the Internet are emerging. Software engineers and social scientists revealed that algorithms determine children’s media content and exploitative features manipulate the duration of media exposure. The article evaluates media usage for very young children. Based on this risk–benefit analysis, the article proposes a policy to increase the inclusiveness and safety of the digital space for all young children. “Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences.” Volume 9, Issue 1, March 2022. Accessed 7/26/2023.
- Connecting Communities through Affordable Broadband
- LISC’s Michelle Harati looks at how recent federal investments in broadband affordability will help connect more households and expand access to shared prosperity within historically underserved communities. LISC. Published August 2022. Accessed 9/23/2022.
- Digital Access Plan – Wyoming Business Council
- The Wyoming Broadband Office (WBO) is developing a Digital Access grant program in advance of funds we expect to receive from the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). This multi-year grant program will focus on improving the affordability, adoption, and use of broadband throughout Wyoming. Wyoming Business Council. Elaina Zempel. Accessed August 2023.
- Eliciting Consumer Willingness to Pay for Home Internet Service: Closing the Digital Divide in the State of Indiana
- The economic and societal benefits of broadband have been well documented, including increased access to education, civic engagement, political participation, and public education. However, there continues to be disparity between rural and urban areas regarding internet access/speed. With the second highest Midwestern rural population density, this analysis sought to quantify usage of internet services and estimate Indiana residents’ willingness to pay (WTP) for home internet service. This analysis found the mean WTP for residents is between $0.06/Mbps and $0.10/Mbps per month for broadband. Age has a significant positive relationship with WTP for fiber optic internet; subscriber’s employment also plays a significant role. John Lai, Nicole O. Wilmar, Courtney Bir. “Applied Economics Perspectives and Policy.” Accessed July 2023.
- Individual Digital Capital Survey Results (PDF)
- Focus and Findings The Individual Digital Capital Survey was designed to document differences between socioeconomic and demographic groups on internet and device access, affordability, home access and type, digital resourcefulness, internet uses, benefits of internet use, perceived benefits and disadvantages, training interests, and access to internet and device support networks. Conducted with a national sample, including strategic oversampling, there are two main takeaways. First, notable differences took place between lower/higher earning, less/more educated individuals, and to a slightly lesser extent, between younger and older respondents. Second, findings concerning mobile only users show they do not benefit as much and/or leverage the technology to its fullest potential. Additionally, they were less interested in training topics and their support networks were more limited compared to other groups. This group tends to be lower earning and less educated individuals. Findings may inform the types of interventions needed to reduce these divides. Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC), Alabama A&M University, Kentucky State University, Purdue University, North Carolina A&T State University, Prairie View A&M University, and Fort Valley A&M UniversityRoberto Gallardo and John J Green. Published October 2022. Accessed October 2022.
- Internet For All Map – Funding by STate/Territory
- The Internet for All Funding Recipient section brings together details for federally-funded grant projects and their recipients to enable transparent access to program participation information. Explore the full list of grant recipients within a state and learn how these projects are making a positive impact on closing the digital divide and ensuring Internet for All. NTIA. Accessed March 2024
- New Analysis Shows Offline Households Are Willing to Pay $10-a-Month on Average for Home Internet Service, Though Three in Four Say Any Cost is Too Much
- Affordability is a core part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Internet for All initiative. We know that access to an Internet connection isn’t true access unless everyone can afford that connection. Michelle Cao, Policy Specialist, and Rafi Goldberg, Senior Policy Advisor, Digital Equity, Office of Policy Analysis and Development. NTIA. Accessed May 2023.