Digital Equity: The Softer Side of the Biden Infrastructure Plan
Digital equity advocates, state broadband offices and local government staffers are encouraged by the president’s emphasis on their work, but what do they need at the federal level to fully solve this challenge?
May 22, 2021 •
Shutterstock/archna nautiyal President Biden’s recently announced infrastructure proposal calls for a massive, unprecedented investment aimed at connecting all Americans to the Internet, one that has led to some digital equity experts calling it a potential game changer for their work.
Dubbed the American Jobs Plan, White House verbiage for the proposal lists high-speed broadband alongside essential utilities, noting some of its top priorities as delivering “clean drinking water, a renewed electric grid, and high-speed broadband to all Americans.” Essentially, electricity and water have long been considered vital utilities; now, the country’s
The Biden Infrastructure Plan Digital Equity Wishlist
Digital equity advocates, state broadband offices and local government staffers are encouraged by the president’s emphasis on their work, but what do they need at the federal level to fully solve this challenge?
May 11, 2021 •
Shutterstock/archna nautiyal President Biden’s recently announced infrastructure proposal calls for a massive, unprecedented investment aimed at connecting all Americans to the Internet, one that has led to some digital equity experts calling it a potential game changer for their work.
Dubbed the
American Jobs Plan, White House verbiage for the proposal lists high-speed broadband alongside essential utilities, noting some of its top priorities as delivering “clean drinking water, a renewed electric grid, and high-speed broadband to all Americans.” Essentially, electricity and water have long been considered vital utilities; now, the country’s leadersh
The Office of Innovation in San Antonio, Texas, is working to advance technology and infrastructure.
Created in 2007, the office is expanding Wi-Fi access for kids with Connected Beyond the Classroom.
A smart streetlight program was also implemented to save money and energy and collect valuable data.
This article is part of a series focused on American cities building a better tomorrow called Advancing Cities.
Digital inclusion is an issue that the city of San Antonio, Texas, started to address before the COVID-19 crisis sent people to work and learn from home full time.
In 2019, the city s Office of Innovation kicked off a digital-divide assessment of residents. We really wanted to get to the granular level of our residents and identify where the gaps are based on broadband connectivity, based on access to devices, and based on digital literacy, Brian Dillard, the city s chief innovation officer and a third-generation San Antonio native, told Insider.
Inside San Antonio s Office of Innovation, which plans to bridge the digital divide with smart technology and infrastructure insider@insider.com (Erica Sweeney)
The Office of Innovation in San Antonio, Texas, is working to advance technology and infrastructure.
Created in 2007, the office is expanding Wi-Fi access for kids with Connected Beyond the Classroom.
A smart streetlight program was also implemented to save money and energy and collect valuable data.
This article is part of a series focused on American cities building a better tomorrow called Advancing Cities.
Digital inclusion is an issue that the city of San Antonio, Texas, started to address before the COVID-19 crisis sent people to work and learn from home full time.
The San Antonio Police Department is analyzing itself.
In a move that raises questions about impartiality, the city reorganized a city team reviewing data over how the police interacts with the public, placing them back in the police chain of command and reporting to Police Chief William McManus.
Last September in the wake of racial justice protests spurred by the death of George Floyd the city committed to analyze how the police interact with citizens and look at foundational problems dealing with race.
“Calls for police reform have brought a sharper focus to how equity and justice is reflected in our institutions, our values and our spending,” said Erik Walsh, San Antonio city manager in the city’s budget documents.