digitalLIFT’s 4th annual Day of Equity is October 8, 2026. Don’t miss this amazing and empowering day! Six sector-specific sessions feature engaging presenters, industry leaders, and powerful content that will inform, educate, encourage, excite, and inspire you and everyone who attends. Register For the Day of Equity Sessions Today!
Roberto Gallardo of Purdue University has a new study (An Evolving Digital Divide:
Measuring and Understanding Mobile-Dependent Households (MDH)) out looking at folks with mobile-only access to broadband…
Despite unprecedented broadband investment, the share of U.S. households relying solely on cellular data and mobile devices or mobile-dependent households (MDH) increased from 11.9 to 14.1 percent between 2019 and 2024. This report introduces the MDH concept, which captures
the “double whammy” of limited data and limited screen size, and examines its determinants before and after the COVID-19 pandemic using Census tract-level data. Results indicate that the share of the population with any disability, households with a lack of internet access, income, educational attainment, and homeownership are among the strongest factors associated with mobile dependence, with several associations shifting in strength post-pandemic. As communities implement BEAD-funded broadband projects, these findings suggest that connecting households is insufficient if that connectivity comes through the most constrained pathway available.
I’ve been looking at reports about computer vs phone vs tablet access for years. I am acutely reminded of the difference on vacation. I can do many things on my phone, and in a pinch, I could do my job but it’s much more difficult. Roberto looked at 5-Year American Community Survey (ACS) dataset ending in 2019 and in 2024 to view mobile-only access.
Here are some images of what it looks like
His conclusions…
To summarize, this report introduces the concept of mobile-dependent households experiencing the “double whammy” of relying solely on cellular data and mobile devices and examines the factors associated with this growing population before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Recalling that the share of MDH increased from 11.9 to 14.1 percent between 2019 and 2024, a period of unprecedented federal broadband investment. This growth, combined with the expanding footprint of high-high clusters shown in the LISA maps, suggests that infrastructure deployment alone does not resolve the structural conditions pushing households toward mobile-only connectivity. This is
important to keep in mind as the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) investments across the country start to materialize and the future of the Digital Equity Act funds, which targets skills and devices is uncertain.Several post-pandemic shifts stand out: the metro-nonmetro gap widened as metro tracts gained a significant negative association with MDH by 2024; disability’s association with MDH strengthened substantially, reflecting the consequences of essential services moving to digital platforms that small screens and capped data plans cannot adequately support; the no-internet association also
strengthened, indicating that where fixed broadband is absent, the households that do come online are increasingly doing so through mobile; income’s association strengthened as well, consistent with fixed broadband becoming more of a premium good in the post-pandemic economy; and the
association with the share of the population aged 65 or older disappeared entirely, suggesting that older adults who entered the digital world during the pandemic did so disproportionately through smartphones rather than fixed broadband. Notably, blue-collar occupations, while still positively associated with MDH in both years, weakened in strength, possibly reflecting that broadband expansion reached more blue-collar communities post-pandemic even as afordability became a more dominant barrier.
And cutting to the chase…
In moving beyond the question of whether households are linked to how they are connected, this report reveals that a growing share of American households experience a second-class form of digital participation. As Napoli and Obar (2014) warned over a decade ago, treating mobile access as equivalent to fixed broadband risks rendering this growing population invisible. The MDH concept makes them visible.
Rural Minnesota is often overlooked. Many people in our region, especially seniors and older adults, rely on their landline phone service. Many still do not have cell service due to the increased cost or simply the unavailability of adequate broadband in their area. Frontier, a major provider in these areas, plans to discontinue its traditional landline service and has made that proposal to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.
AARP wants to ensure that consumers are not left without dependable and affordable access to essential phone service. We hope the commission requires strong consumer protections before allowing a discontinuation of landlines. Reliable and affordable phone service is too important to tinker with without making sure everyone has that protection.
From the Institute for Local Self Reliance…
Building for Digital Equity webinar series returns on October 8th at 3:00 pm ET with a timely question: with federal support for digital equity work in retreat, what does it actually take to keep this work alive, growing, and reaching people at the local level? Register here!
The Task Force heard from Otter Tail County on their broadband experience. It was nice to hear about the impact Blandin has had on their access. The Office of Broadband Development gave an update of how things are going with BEAD and other programs. John Horrigan from Benton Institute for Broadband and Society talked about access and adoption and trends over time to percentage of coverage and speeds as well as changes in recent goals from speed, access and affordability to more access and affordability.
The Task Force also decided to send a comment to the FCC in support of E-Rate
Meeting Agenda Continue reading
From the National Digital Inclusion Alliance…
The Net Inclusion conference has been a staple in the digital inclusion community since 2016, bringing hundreds of practitioners, advocates, academics, internet service providers, and policymakers together to advance their professional development, share their knowledge, and discuss:
- Local, state, Tribal, and federal policies impacting digital equity.
- Digital inclusion best practices from across the country, including new sessions on AI and digital equity, rural and Tribal outreach, and securing funding for sustainability.
- Digital inclusion programming, including the latest on digital navigators, digital health equity, accessibility, serving diverse populations, and community-centered work.
Join us in Columbus, Ohio, and be part of the movement to shape our digital future.
From the National Digital Inclusion Alliance…
Date & TimeSep 21, 2026 01:00 PM inDescriptionLearn-to-earn programs are one way organizations combine support for multiple barriers to digital inclusion, often pairing device ownership with the completion of digital skills training or testing. Learn-to-earn models may be selected for a number of reasons, such as the belief that pairing device ownership with digital skills training deepens long-term impact or funding requirements like those included in NTIA’s current Native Entities Grant Program. Join us to learn best practices for developing the most impactful learn-to-earn programs for digital inclusion and unpack the Native Entities Grant Program’s specific requirements related to learn-to-earn programs. Digitunity will start us off with an overview of learn-to-earn models, research behind learning incentives and key decision points on eligibility, completion requirements, data collection, and device sourcing and support followed by presentations and Q&A with panelists who have experience implementing learn-to-earn programs. Attendees will leave with practical resources and guidance for how they might develop or improve their own learn-to-earn programs.
Doug Dawson (POTS & PANS) takes a look at the disadvantage to consumers when telecommunications customer cut the copper…
But there are still good policy reasons for not tearing down the networks. For many rural households, a telephone landline is the only way to reliably reach 911 or to make the daily calls needed to connect to doctors, banks, and other necessities of daily life. The FCC and state regulators have all said they support tearing down copper as long as customers have an equivalent alternative for voice. And that’s where the rub comes. The Internet is full of stories of people who have lost their copper with no alternative available. Unless a telco is replacing copper with fiber, they generally tell customers to change to wireless broadband. Everybody who lives in rural America knows that cell coverage is poor or nonexistent in much of rural America. But the lack of cell coverage doesn’t seem to be a deterrent for the big telcos that want to get rid of the copper.
People can always change to Starlink, assuming they live in a place where they don’t have to cut down a bunch of trees or put up an expensive tall pole to receive service. But this means replacing a $30 landline bill with a $130 Starlink bill. Even then, a customer has to be sophisticated enough to subscribe to a WiFi calling service through a web connection and worry about losing 911 when power goes out.
I recently read an article on Medium by Bruce Kushnick that points out another motivation for the big telcos to tear down copper. When a telco eliminates the last copper infrastructure in a state, it is theoretically no longer subject to Title II traditional regulation. The FCC and courts have rules that broadband and voice services carried across all other technologies are subject to Title I regulation as an information service.
This is a big deal that is not being talked about. Carriers subject to Title II regulation are required to offer just and reasonable rates. Title II carriers are subject to strict rules about protecting customer information. Title II carriers are subject to all sorts of rules for things like having specific rules about when and how a customer can be disconnected for nonpayment. Title II carriers are subject to mandatory obligations to interconnect with other carriers.
If a telco can change to become regulated by Title I rules, all of these regulatory obligations would go away. If a big telco could get every single customer off copper in a state, they’d have a good case to make that they are no longer subject to any Title II regulation. I’m positive that this is where AT&T and Verizon are headed. They would probably have to petition a state to make the change, but in most states they will win their argument.
An invitation from the planners...
You’re invited! 🌉💻
Join the Colorado Adult Education Coalition (CAEC) for Bridging the Digital Divide during Digital Inclusion Week 2026
This 100% remote event brings together educators, workforce professionals, community leaders, and digital equity advocates for conversations focused on AI, digital literacy, technology access, workforce opportunities, online learning, digital equity, cybersecurity, and more.
📅 October 5–9, 2026
⏰ 8:00 AM–4:00 PM (MT)
💻 100% Remote
Together, we’re building bridges to access, skills, opportunity, equity, and brighter tomorrows.
Learn more: https://www.caeconline.org/digitaldivide
Anhil Hurkadli, former acting deputy director for the Office of Educational Technology and chief of staff for the Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development at the U.S. Department of Education, lives in Minneapolis. The Minnesota Star Tribune recently published an Opinion Piece from him on technology in the classroom…
The 2024 National Educational Technology Plan identified three digital “divides” that characterize more precisely where our intentions fall short: the digital access divide (who does or doesn’t have connectivity, content and devices); the digital-use divide (active or passive technology used to complete instructional tasks); and the digital design divide (systems providing ongoing, robust professional support to ensure all educators use technology more effectively, or not). A student, parent, educator or administrator can use this language to better pinpoint the specific issues technology is creating in their school community.
The letter goes on to offer some recommendations to students, parents, educators and district leaders. He also discussion the importance of policy…
Minnesota is exceptional in many ways, but we lag far behind as a state when it comes to educational technology policy. Gov. Tim Walz made attempts to close the digital-access divide during the pandemic, but little was done to ensure those new devices were used effectively (as teachers and parents who weathered the pandemic can attest). Since ChatGPT was released to the public in 2022, our state government and the Legislature have done little to set a unifying vision for technology or AI in education, or to provide guidance and resources to implement that vision.
We should expect that our next governor, our next commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Education and our next state Legislature have informed, nuanced opinions about the issues involved and the political will to act. Thankfully, strong leadership exists at the local level. St. Cloud’s robust guidance to students, educators and families and Hopkins’ ”pedagogy over policing” approach stand out as regional exemplars.
These are collective opportunities and challenges that will take time to address, but we each play a role in solving them. Don’t spend another semester wishing someone else would do something about it. While the underlying issues may be difficult to identify (but easy to ignore), things will only get more complex. Just ask Claude how agentic AI or quantum computing will affect education.
Artificial intelligence may be changing how people work, learn and create, but Dr. Elizabeth M. Adams wants Black communities to think beyond just responding to the technology.
“I would like to see us leapfrog and actually shape the future, specifically with how we engage with AI,” Adams said.
That idea was at the center of “The AI Era: What to Know and How to Use It,” a Sister Spokesman event held Saturday, Sept. 5, at the NorthPoint Conference Center in North Minneapolis.
Presented by Sister Spokesman and the Minnesota CHILL Foundation, the gathering showed attendees how AI can boost career development, entrepreneurship, and daily tasks. Panelists also addressed concerns around privacy, bias, misinformation and its use among youth.
The event’s panel featured Adams, chief engagement officer at the Minnesota Responsible AI Institute, and Chuck Hill, president of Programming Solutions Incorporated and chair of the Minnesota CHILL Foundation.
The article shares highlights from the session.
Paul Bunyan shares their plans for Lifeline Awareness Week…
Paul Bunyan Communications and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are promoting Lifeline Awareness Week, September 7-13.
Access to local emergency services and community resources is vital to all residents. Lifeline helps low-income consumers connect to the nation’s voice and broadband networks, find jobs, access health care services, connect with family and call for help in an emergency. For some, being connected can be the difference between social connection and complete isolation.
Paul Bunyan Communications wants residents to get and stay connected and promotes Lifeline throughout the year to raise awareness about the program that provides assistance to those who need voice and/or broadband services but can’t afford it. “Digital Connectivity and Lifeline Awareness Week,” September 7-13 is another opportunity to highlight this important assistance program.
“We promote the Lifeline program a lot because want to make sure all our membership and those who live within our service area know about it and the benefit it can provide. This program can help those struggling to afford Internet services get and stay connected” said Chad Bullock, Paul Bunyan Communications CEO.
Lifeline helps low-income consumers connect to the nation’s communications networks, find jobs, access health care services, connect with family and call for help in an emergency. Under the federal Lifeline program, low-income consumers who participate in certain public assistance programs, or qualify based on income can receive a discount of up to $9.25 per month off their monthly bill for broadband, or bundled phone and broadband service, up to $5.25 for voice-only service, and up to a total of $34.25 per month for residents of qualifying Tribal lands. More information on program eligibility and rules is available at http://www.lifelinesupport.org. An American Sign Language video on Lifeline is available at
The GAO (Government Accountability Office reports…
Federal agencies target funding to underserved areas using FCC mapping data showing which locations do and do not have broadband access, as reported by providers. To improve data accuracy, FCC accepts challenges from the public and makes updates if needed. Some program participants and stakeholders said this challenge process was burdensome and unclear. For example, challenging a
large number of locations in an area could be difficult for smaller communities and providers with limited resources. Without targeted outreach to smaller communities and providers to address such difficulties, FCC may not be able to obtain the most accurate information about broadband availability and therefore may not be able to effectively identify and target funding to underserved areas.
As one of the largest programs focused on broadband deployment GAO reviewed, BEAD holds great potential to make broadband available to areas that have been underserved. GAO has previously reported on issues providers face in high-cost areas, including financial sustainability. In October 2025, NTIA announced a requirement that BEAD providers certify that they will not accept federal funding from other sources for broadband deployment and operations costs for locations funded by BEAD for at least 10 years. This provision is intended to ensure that BEAD projects are financially self-sustainable without additional federal funding. NTIA’s BEAD documentation for states and territories states that there may be a basis for them to request certain data from providers. However, NTIA did not detail the circumstances that could warrant such a request. By providing more details, NTIA would help states anticipate potential
problems and prevent service lapses to underserved areas when providers cannot continue providing services due to financial issues.
Getting into specifics…
Recommendations for Executive Action
Agency Affected – Federal Communications Commission
Recommendation – The Chair of FCC should conduct targeted outreach to smaller participants (such as local and tribal governments and providers), to identify and address difficulties they have experienced completing the bulk Broadband Data Collection challenge process. (Recommendation 1)Agency Affected – National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Recommendation – The NTIA Administrator should provide information to NTIA’s partner states and territories on when and why to request additional information from BEAD subrecipients, to monitor and support their ability to remain financially sustainable in offering affordable broadband during the 10-year federal interest period. (Recommendation 2)
From the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA)…
NDIA is now accepting applications for the 2026 Digital Inclusion Trailblazers! Trailblazers are municipal, county, or regional governments recognized by NDIA for paving the way for excellent digital inclusion work and providing models for digitally inclusive communities committed to advancing digital equity.
“Striving for the NDIA Trailblazer indicators has helped focus and uplift our digital inclusion efforts while providing a wealth of insights from other communities to learn from. This program and our recognition have sparked new momentum and partnerships for digital equity in South Bend.” Patrick McGuire, Technology Equity Manager, City of South Bend
Community members at the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center attended DIGIDAZE on Saturday, a free community technology fair designed to boost digital confidence across St. Paul.
The event, presented by the Community Technology Empowerment Project (STEP), St. Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN) and AmeriCorps, offered hands‑on activities, refurbished devices, raffles and one‑on‑one help with computers, smartphones and online tools.
“Our goal is to bridge the digital gap,” said Dasiyah Franklin‑Carter, event co-organizer. She said digital literacy is becoming essential for families navigating schoolwork, job applications and everyday communication.
“I want people to leave with more confidence with using technology,” she said.