Digital Equity Act of 2019

SETDA has endorsed the Digital Equity Act of 2019, led by Senator Murray and Senate Democrats to 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.

Endorsed by:

Alliance for Community Media
American Library Association
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC
Broadband Connects America
Center for Media Justice
Chief Officers of State Librarians Association – COSLA
Consortium for School Networking – CoSN
Competitive Carriers Association – CCA
Free Press Action Fund
National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors – NATOA
National Coalition for Literacy
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 – PTA
New America’s Open Technology Institute
Next Century Cities
NTEN
Public Knowledge
Schools, Health & Libraries Coalition – SHLB
State Educational Technology Directors – SETDA
Urban Libraries Council

Read the bill text here.

Find more background on the Digital Equity Act here.

Find a section-by-section breakdown of the Digital Equity Act here.

In the News:

• The Monroe Monitor & Valley News: Senator Murray, Senate Democrats Introduce New Legislation to Tackle Nationwide Digital Equity Gap
• edscoop.com: Hundreds sign petition against FCC’s plan to commercialize education’s wireless service