 United States Senate
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For Immediate Release Thursday, April 11th, 2019 | Contact: | |
Senator Murray, Senate Democrats Introduce New Legislation to Tackle Nationwide Digital Equity Gap
Led by Senator Murray, Senate Democrats introduced the Digital Equity Act of 2019to help close the digital divide impacting communities across the nation
The Digital Equity Act builds
on recent efforts to increase access to broadband by prioritizing
“digital inclusion”—activities that seek to provide individuals and
communities with the skills, supports, and technologies necessary to
take full advantage of a broadband internet connection when they have
one
Legislation creates two new $125M grant programs aimed at promoting#DigitalEquityNow and supporting digital inclusion programs for students, families, and workers
Pew Research Center: “Nearly one-in-five teens can’t always finish their homework because of the digital divide” – MORE HERE
Learn more from Senator Murray’s new Medium Post: “Why We Need the Digital Equity Act” – LINK
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Led
by U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today a group
of Senate Democrats introduced new legislation aimed at closing the
growing digital divide in communities across the country. The Digital Equity Act of 2019 creates
new federal investments targeted toward a diverse array of projects at
the state and local level that promote “digital equity”— a concept
defined by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance as the “condition in
which all individuals and communities have the information technology
capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy and
economy.” The legislation was cosponsored by Senators Mazie Hirono
(D-HI), Angus King (I-ME), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Amy Klobuchar
(D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen
(D-MD), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Jack Reed (D-RI), and a companion bill
will also be introduced in the House of Representatives.
“For
so many of us, having a reliable broadband connection is a given—we use
the internet to pay bills, do our taxes, book travel, do homework, and
much more. We can do it on our own time, in our own homes—even from our
phones. But for far too many individuals and families—including those
from communities of color, people with disabilities, low-income
households, and rural communities—getting online isn’t so easy to do,
and I strongly believe that in 2019, we shouldn’t be a country of haves
and have-nots when it comes to using the internet,” said Senator Murray. “That’s why I’m proud to join with my Democratic colleagues to introduce the Digital Equity Act,
which will direct significant new federal investments to help ensure
people in our communities have the tools, support, and technologies
necessary to take full advantage of a broadband connection when they
have access to one. Congress can and should help states, counties,
tribes, and others do more to close the growing digital divide, and the Digital Equity Act is
a major step in the right direction. It’s the right thing to do for
families, and it’s the right thing to do for our economy to make sure
everyone is reaching their full potential.”
“The
internet impacts every aspect of our day-to-day lives, from conducting
business to pursuing an education to connecting with friends and loved
ones. Put simply: it is the most important tool for anyone trying to
participate in 21st century life,” said Senator King. “And
it’s not enough to simply have access to the internet; you also need to
know how to use it. By making these investments in digital equity and
digital inclusion, we can ensure Americans of all ages and backgrounds
are fluent in the technology that will drive so much of our nation’s
future.”
“The
Internet is a powerful tool that has become instrumental in economic
and social mobility and civic engagement. In 2009, Hawaii capitalized on
funds made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
to expand broadband to schools and public computer centers, making it
one of the most-connected states in the country. But physical
infrastructure is only part of the equation,” said Senator Hirono. “The Digital Equity Act will
provide grants for things like digital literacy and digital skills
education to low-income populations and improving the online
accessibility of social services for individuals with disabilities that
will allow the people of Hawaii to make full use of what broadband has
to offer. Only then can they fully participate in our society,
democracy, and economy.”
“More
and more, we rely on the internet to help us participate in our
democracy and take part in the global economy. Expanding access to the
digital world will help combat inequality, increase transparency in our
institutions, and help citizens hold their government accountable.
That’s why I’m pleased to support the Digital Equity Act,” said Senator Whitehouse.
“As
we rely more on technology in our everyday lives, we have to make sure
that every family has access to broadband, regardless of their zip code.
This legislation will help close the digital divide and bring
high-speed internet to communities across the county,” said Senator Klobuchar.
“Access
to broadband internet service is literally transformative. With
broadband, students can access vast educational resources, families
remain connected, citizens engage their representatives, and businesses
reach new customers,” said Senator Blumenthal. “For
far too long, the digital divide has left behind those overlooked and
underserved communities that would benefit most from broadband. Our bill
would invest much-needed resources in our broadband infrastructure –
spurring growth and development, and helping to level the playing field
for all Americans.”
“Broadband
is the infrastructure of the 21st Century—it isn’t just nice, it’s
necessary if we’re going to build an economy that works for everyone,” said Senator Smith. “This
bill represents a positive step forward in that direction, ensuring
that traditionally overlooked communities are not left behind in our
efforts to provide affordable and reliable internet service to all
Minnesotans and other Americans.”
“From
students completing homework to people of all ages applying online for
jobs, broadband internet plays a crucial role in a community’s growth
and economy. Expanding access to broadband will help create more
opportunity for Marylanders, and will move our state forward on closing
the digital divide. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this
common-sense legislation, and I will continue working to expand economic
opportunity for all,” said Senator Van Hollen.
According to the Pew Research Center,
nearly one in five teenagers in the U.S. say they have been unable to
complete homework assignments due to lack of a reliable internet
connection. The digital divide, also sometimes referred to as the
“homework gap” as it applies to students, exacerbates existing wealth
and income gaps in our communities; subsequently, many people—including
those from communities of color, people with disabilities, low-income
households, and rural communities, overwhelmingly impacted by the
digital skills gap—are at risk of being left behind in an increasingly
technology-driven world, absent intervention. To that end, the Digital Equity Act of 2019 strengthens
federal support for efforts to help ensure students, families, and
workers have the information technology capacity needed to fully
participate in society by creating an annual $125 million formula grant
program for all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to
fund the creation and implementation of comprehensive digital equity
plans in each State, as well as an additional annual $125 million
competitive grant program to support digital equity projects undertaken
by individual groups, coalitions, or communities of interest. Finally,
the legislation tasks the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA) with evaluating digital equity projects and
providing policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels with
detailed information about which projects are most effective.
“I
believe the future belongs to the connected. No matter who you are or
where you live in this country, you need access to modern communications
to have a fair shot at 21st century success. But today millions of
American lack the broadband access that they need to meaningfully
participate in the digital age. That means too many students fall into
the Homework Gap, unable to complete school assignments that require
high-speed internet service. It means that too many small businesses
will not have the work force with the skills necessary to compete in the
global economy. It means that too many communities will go without the
civic and commercial infrastructure that is needed to thrive and grow.
So thank you to Senator Murray for this legislation which thoughtfully
addresses digital equity and seeks to expand technology opportunity for
all,” said Federal Communications Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel.
“Local
and state leadership drive most efforts to bring people online with
affordable Internet access and training. On the one hand, this is
fabulous because trusted community relationships are essential to
effective digital inclusion work. On the other hand, financial support
of local digital inclusion work is sorely lacking. The Digital Equity
Act recognizes the value of local trusted institutions while allocating
financial support. NDIA and our 350 affiliates in 41 states fully
support the Digital Equity Act and look forward to its passage,” said National Digital Inclusion Alliance Executive Director Angela Siefer.
The Digital Equity Act of 2019 is
endorsed by: Alliance for Community Media, American Library
Association, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Association of Public
and Land-grant Universities, Broadband Connects America, Center for Law
and Social Policy, Center for Media Justice, Chief Officers of State
Library Agencies, Coalition on Adult Basic Education, Common Cause,
Consortium for School Networking, Competitive Carriers Association, Free
Press Action Fund, International Society for Technology in Education,
National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors,
National Coalition for Literacy, National Collaborative for Digital
Equity, National Congress of American Indians, National Consumer Law
Center on behalf of their low-income clients, National Digital Inclusion
Alliance, National Hispanic Media Coalition, National League of Cities,
National Parent Teacher Association, New America's Open Technology
Institute, Next Century Cities, NTEN, Public Knowledge, Schools, Health
& Libraries Broadband Coalition, State Educational Technology
Directors Association, and the Urban Libraries Council.
Find more background on the Digital Equity Act HERE.
Find a section-by-section breakdown of the Digital Equity Act HERE. Glenn McKnight
IEEE Toronto SIGHT Chair
289-830 6259
.