Platform Tracks Digital Inclusion Efforts Amid COVID-19

Source: GovTech Published: April 28, 2020'

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) has created a pair of trackers to gauge governmental actions in support of digital equity during the COVID-19 crisis.

The group, which is a national nonprofit organization that advocates for digital inclusion issues such as broadband access, created one tracker for state actions and another for local actions. The lists include crisis work that stands in addition to the Federal Communications Commission’s Keep America Connected Pledge. They are split into three categories: Internet access, device access and tech support.

Digital inclusion has become a topic of much discussion as the COVID-19 crisis has forced vital services such as education and health care to be provided online while people shelter in their homes. One of the central ideas behind the trackers is, as the site itself puts it, “documenting local government initiatives to encourage other local governments to address access to the Internet (particularly at home), personal computers and tablets, and tech assistance.” 

NDIA Executive Director Angela Siefer, when reached via email, noted that “being digitally connected during this pandemic is an absolute necessity.” She also called the states and local government agencies taking action “problem solvers” and said the NDIA wants to life-up this work to encourage more innovation in the space.

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