A Look at 3 Cities Leading the Way in Digital Equity
Source: Gov Tech By Zach Quaintance
GovTech checked in with Boston; Mesa, Ariz.; and Oakland, Calif., to get a sense of what some of the newest things happening in digital equity are across the country, as cities continue to prioritize the digital divide.
As city leaders across the country continue to prioritize closing the digital divide in their communities, the work continues to evolve.
This week marks roughly the two-and-a-half-year anniversary of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, which had the inadvertent effect of showing Americans the importance of digital inclusion. Traditionally, digital inclusion has meant making sure that everyone has access to high-speed Internet at home, devices to use that Internet, and the digital skills they need to do so in meaningful ways. This remains true at the core level. Yet, some cities have now started to expand the scope of the work, doing so in different ways specific to their individual needs.
GovTech recently spoke to elected officials and tech leaders in three cities of different sizes spread out across the country — Boston; Mesa, Ariz.; and Oakland, Calif. — to get a sense of what is happening in their communities, as American government civic leaders continue to prioritize digital inclusion and digital equity.
DIGITAL EQUITY IN BOSTON
In Boston, elected officials and tech leaders are collaborating to expand the scope of digital equity work past the three traditional pillars mentioned above.
While making sure all residents have high-speed Internet, devices, and skills training remains a priority for the city, Boston CIO Santiago Garces says a new focus has emerged alongside that one. Specifically, he and his department have broadened the scope of the work to also include looking at how technology can ease barriers toward equity for different groups.