National Urban League Releases White Paper on Digital Equity - An Expansion on the Organization’s Lewis Latimer Plan

Washington, D.C. (March 4, 2022) – Today, National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial issued the following statement after the release of the organization’s digital equity white paper entitled, “From Page to Progress: Bringing the Latimer Plan to Life Through Infrastructure and Job Act Funding;”

“The National Urban League is pleased to have submitted this white paper in response to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s request for comments concerning the National Telecommunications and Information’s (NTIA) implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This white paper builds upon the National Urban League’s Lewis Latimer Plan for Digital Equity and Inclusion; a plan which provides a comprehensive framework that provides every household in America access to broadband networks, creating new opportunities for underserved communities to participate in the growth of the digital economy. 

“This white paper outlines comprehensive solutions to help close the digital divide, promote digital literacy, and drive broadband adoption. It also provides recommendations for NTIA and other agencies to consider to effectively structure their broadband funding programs, including:

• Prioritize Partnerships and Consortia.  Consortia-based models that integrate national and local private actors, public actors, and non-profits have been effective in creating comprehensive adoption programs that combine the longevity and experience of larger entities with the responsiveness and community trust of local entities.  
   
• Include Creative Partners as Potential Funding Recipients.  Because non-adoption is the result of numerous cultural, geographic, and socioeconomic inputs, agencies should support entities that provide or partner with other entities that provide adjacent literacy services and connect individuals with wrap-around, case-management services such as childcare and after-school programming, rental assistance, or mental health services.  
   
• Support Tailored Digital Inclusion Programming and Digital Navigators.  By employing targeted, culturally relevant messaging and leveraging trusted community intermediaries and training digital navigators, digital literacy organizations can help to effectively inform target populations about the tangible benefits of broadband.
   
• Promote Access to Low-Cost Broadband Service.  Due to unprecedented efforts from the public and private sectors, free or low-cost broadband service is available to more Americans.  Funding should be directed to programs that will increase the utilization of these offers by identifying non-adopters, connecting potential users with low-cost broadband service providers, helping with marketing private and public discounted Internet offers, and assisting consumers with signing-up for such programming and/or receiving subsidies.  
   
• Provide Low-Cost Device Options and Technical Support.  Another focus of funding programs must be to support organizations that provide free or low-cost devices, particularly for non-smartphone devices, in addition to ongoing technical support

“The National Urban League has remained dedicated to providing digital equity to our most vulnerable populations and will continue to work closely with partners in government and offer solutions to close the digital gap.”

To read our white paper, click here.