Event Recap: Closing the Digital Divide

New America’s Open Technology Institute, Network:On, and Public Knowledge convened Closing the Digital Divide: The Affordable Connectivity Program on the Ground and in DC, a hybrid event on June 14th to spotlight on-the-ground ACP practitioners who highlighted the program’s successes and lessons learned. Speakers also offered a bipartisan perspective on how continued funding of the ACP can help close the digital divide, advance equity, and spur economic opportunity and development. The event included:

• Video: Network:On
• Welcome Remarks: Lilian Coral, New America; Anne-Marie Slaughter, New America
• Keynote: Administrator Alan Davidson, NTIA; Governor Roy Cooper, North Carolina
• First Panel: Angela Siefer, NDIA (moderator); Angie Cooper, Heartland Forward; Abraham R Camez III, Hoopa Valley Tribe; Natali Betancur, Center for Digital Equity at Queens University of Charlotte; Alisa Valentin, National Urban League
• Second Panel: Anita Banerji, Leadership Conference (moderator); Kathryn de Wit, Pew Charitable Trusts; Joshua Stager, Free Press; Jonathan Cannon, R Street; Kim Keenan, Digital Progress Institute
• Video: Vice President Kamala Harris
• Closing Remarks: Chris Lewis, Public Knowledge

Key takeaways from the event:

• Internet connectivity is a social and economic necessity in 2023. The ACP is a vehicle for getting people online and connected to healthcare, education, and professional opportunities. Lack of access to the internet further disenfranchises already marginalized communities.
• Local communities need to be supported in ACP outreach and application assistance. The Digital Navigator program trains community-based volunteers to help those in their local neighborhoods sign up for the ACP, connect to the internet, obtain devices, and learn digital literacy skills. Digital Navigators understand local problems and build trust in ways that outside partners cannot.
• The ACP has bipartisan support, which is rare, and should be promoted across the aisle and across the country. The ACP is a tech-neutral, market-driven solution that helps all Americans affordably get and stay connected to broadband.

Fact sheets, events, research, and toolkits shared during the event:

• Affordable Connectivity Program: This FCC primer provides an introduction to the ACP, eligibility requirements, and steps for enrolling in the program through getinternet.gov.
• ACP Enrollment and Claims Tracker: This tracker monitors and publishes ACP enrollment by date, state, county, and zip code, providing a comprehensive look at ACP successes and areas of opportunity.
• Broadband Data Collection: This FCC nation-wide map, published on May 30, 2023, identifies the internet service providers and mobile options available to residents in each state, county, and address.
• White House's ACP “Online for All” Week of Action: The White House is hosting an ACP-related event from June 14-22, 2023. Organizations and companies from across the country will be joining together to enroll communities in the ACP and share success stories.
• ACP in the 313: Closing Detroit’s Digital Divide: Written by OTI’s Chris Sadler, this case study examines Detroit’s success in implementing the ACP and identifies lessons other cities can learn.
• The Affordable Connectivity Program: When Government Spending is Good: Panelist Jonathan Cannon makes the case for conservative and free-market voters and policymakers to support the ACP. The ACP has been a proven bipartisan success, bringing millions online and lowering the cost of internet services.
• Closing the Digital Divide Benefits Everyone, Not Just the Disconnected: This report assesses the ACP, Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program (BEAD), and other government programs for their potential in closing the digital divide.
• Network:On’s Digital Adoption Toolkit: Network:On has created a toolkit that shares success stories as well as resources for state, local, and tribal leaders and digital navigators, and broadband funding information.
• Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP): June 20, 2023 Social Media Day of Action Toolkit: This social media toolkit was designed to help users educate and promote legislator and public support for the ACP.

Press covering the event:

• White House kicks off 'week of action' on the Affordable Connectivity Program (Light Reading)
• Administration Kicks Off ACP Action Week With Online for All Launch (TR Daily, paywall)
• Commerce Unit Head Calls For Renewing Nat'l Internet Subsidy (Law360, paywall)
• Internet discount program's advocates fight to keep it going (Axios Pro, paywall)
• With ACP Funding 'at Risk,' Closing Digital Divide Also 'at Risk': Davidson (Communications Daily, paywall)

We want to thank our co-hosts, Network:On and Public Knowledge, and each moderator and panelist for their time, expertise, and collaboration.