The latest citizen survey conducted by the Seattle (Wash.) Information Technology Department has found ongoing digital divide and equity issues, and city leadership said it will use findings from survey to pursue goals including 100 percent internet connectivity for residents.

The Department of Education has released the 2024 National Educational Technology Plan (NETP): A Call to Action for Closing the Digital Access, Design and Use Divides.

While the challenges of closing the digital divide are vast and complex, one telecommunications expert told Capitol Hill lawmakers this week that artificial intelligence (AI) can be leveraged to expand broadband services to every corner of the nation.

Baltimore City is distributing 3,000 free Chromebooks to eligible low-income Baltimore City households. 

The Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) is kicking off a project to develop Vermont’s digital equity plan to bridge the digital divide.

In a bid to close the digital divide, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey is engaging in a series of statewide meetings as part of a new initiative, the Alabama Community Broadband Technical Assistance Program (TAP).

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has issued a request for information (RFI) intended to gather recommendations and ideas for how to provide affordable, quality, and reliable internet service options that meet the needs of communities most burdened by the digital divide. The city’s goal is to improve access to high-quality internet and internet adoption for residents living in historically underinvested communities.

Western Illinois University (WIU) has partnered with four local community libraries to establish the ‘Chromebook Lending Program’ to help close the state’s digital divide as telework and online learning continue to boost demand for devices.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced it will commit another $240 million in its eighth wave of the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) program support.

After more than two months of angling and dealmaking, the House of Representatives voted to approve the $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework – on November 5, sending the bill along with its $2 billion in cyber funding and $65 billion in broadband appropriations to President Biden’s desk for final approval.