Philadelphia to ramp up digital inclusive actions
17 January 2025
by Jonathan Andrews
Up to US$12 million has been awarded to Philadelphia to continue and improve ongoing digital equity efforts set forth in its 2022 Digital Equity Plan.
The money, from the US Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Innovation Administration (NTIA), will allow the city to scale-up its collaboration with 18 local non-profits and universities.
“This grant will allow us to expand our city-wide Digital Navigation Network, offer more Digital Skills programing, create a Digital Coach volunteer programme, and distribute hundreds of devices, creating more opportunities for residents to access digital learning,” Juliet Fink-Yates, Broadband and Digital Inclusion Manager, told Cities Today. “Utilising key partners like Parks and Recreation and Free Library, we will establish new Device Kiosks and eSports and Digital Access Centres to enhance adult education and K-12 digital learning,”
Key actions include:
- Connecting thousands of residents in need with free or low-cost internet and devices
- Increasing digital resiliency by providing gateway and intermediate digital skills programing to residents
- Activating hundreds of volunteers in communities to share resources and support digital skills training
- Building eSports and Digital Access Centres across the city to prepare youth and adults for a workforce with rapidly changing required skills.
Fink-Yates added that the partners are all organisations the city has worked with closely over previous years and have demonstrated a commitment to digital inclusion programmes in their communities. They also have the trust of key populations that the NTIA has identified as those most in need of digital inclusion intiatives.
“Our longstanding partnership with the University of Pennsylvania’s Media Inequity and Change Center, Pennsylvania Broadband Research Institute, will play a huge role in identifying data points, data management systems and evaluation processes,” she said. “Their expertise is critical in ensuring that we are maximising our reach and measuring the success of all the programmes outlined in our project.”
The funding is part of President Biden’s US$1.25 billion Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program which has made US$65 billion available to expand broadband access and availability. A key feature of which is the US$42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) programme.
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