Category Archives: Digital Divide

Can better broadband help girls in rural MN become better math students?

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MinnPost reports…

Minnesota girls’ math skills fell nearly half a grade level behind boys in the years after the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new analysis of standardized test scores.

The Associated Press looked at average test scores for third through eighth graders across 15 years in over 5,000 school districts in 33 states, compiled by the Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University.

Across the country, the analysis shows that schools have lost ground since the pandemic following a decade in which educators had nearly closed the gender gap between girls and boys on math scores. While boys’ scores also suffered during COVID, they have recovered faster than girls’ scores. The widening gender gap in Minnesota was among the largest nationwide, equivalent to 43% of a grade level.

It turns out the situation may be worse for girls in rural Minnesota. There is the issue of broadband access…

When schools closed for the pandemic, districts had to focus on making remote learning work.

“Schools were more concerned with the logistics of getting kids on the right application and in the right Zoom room,or getting them to stay at their computers for the whole day, or even helping students and teachers find stable internet, especially in rural areas,” said Kondo, the education professor at St. Catherine University.

Also, there is the issue of girls not seeing themselves in STEM jobs…

Osakis superintendent Dahlheimer also notes that there are cultural aspects of rural Minnesota that make it more difficult to achieve his goal of creating long-term partnerships with businesses that can offer female STEM workers as role models for his district’s students.

“There are less STEM jobs out here. That may change with remote working, but for now, most homes are single-earner homes, and the person working is the husband, the father,” leading to a dearth of women whom girls can see thriving in STEM fields.

The numbers support the lack of role models in the workforce…

In Minnesota, only 26% of STEM workers are female, and only 11% are people of color, Brown said.

Obviously, better broadband would help the access issue. But it also seems that better broadband would support remote work, which would support mothers working (even part time) remotely in all fields, including STEM. Also with better broadband, girls in rural areas can more easily be introduced or even develop mentorships with women working in STEM in rural, suburban and urban areas.

There are some exceptions and I want to give a nod to Iron Rang Engineering’s #Night Program, which turned 10 last February. Here’s more info from their website…

Engineering outreach is a large aspect of Iron Range Engineering because we believe in giving back to our community. #Night is all about empowering young women to know that they can choose a career in engineering if they want to. Having more women in engineering will lead to better and more innovative ideas for solving the world’s problems.

Connected Nation unveils their interactive BEAD Tracker

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From Connected Nation:

Connected Nation unveiled its new interactive dashboard, the BEAD Tracker. The dashboard provides easy access to states’ plans for spending federal funds that were allocated through the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program’s Benefit of the Bargain round. The BEAD Tracker compiles and aggregates state BEAD final proposals, highlighting how each state and U.S. territory intends to use its allocated federal BEAD dollars. That includes the total number of locations that will be served in each state, the distribution of the kind of broadband technology being funded, and how many locations will be served by each internet service provider. In addition to seeing national statistics, the BEAD Tracker allows users to view information for individual states, as well as by broadband platform and even by individual ISPs.

And a few screenshots that might of interest to BoB readers…

Minnesota number:

Help grow the Telehealth Access Point map

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Do you have public space where visitors can securely contact telehealth providers? The NRTRC ( National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers ) is trying to grow their publicly available map of places where folks can go to use Telehealth Access Points. The map could be valuable for folks who lack technology to do a telehealth call from home whether they are on vacation, experiencing homelessness or disaster or simply don’t have the technology or tech skills. Here’s more info from a recent post on the NDIA listserv…

In celebration of Telehealth Awareness Week and in anticipation of Digital Inclusion Week, the NRTRC needs your help reaching 250 Telehealth Access Points (TAPs) on the NRTRC Find Telehealth Map.

A TAP is a public-facing space that furnishes a device with working camera, speaker and microphone, an internet connection and privacy considerations in the form of a dedicated room or kiosk for the general public to access a telehealth appointment.  These have been found throughout the nation at community anchor institutions like libraries, social service agencies, community health centers and more.  The NRTRC began mapping public-facing TAPs in 2023 in hopes of creating awareness of the spaces that are available for telehealth appointments and also to help navigators, providers and telehealth participants to find the resources they are looking for to participate in access to telehealth services.

We are thrilled to announce that as of today, we have mapped over 200 TAPs in all around the country, from New York State, to the Marshall Islands!  But we know there are more out there!  We are striving to map 250 or more of these by the time Digital Inclusion Week rolls out on October 6th and we need your help to accomplish this.  If your organization or any organization you know of is providing a TAP in your community, please fill out this form to get it on the map.  TAPs continue to be self-enrolling so you can do this at any time.

We appreciate your participation in this journey and look forward to celebrating this milestone with you all in October. If you have questions about the NRTRC find telehealth map, feel free to reference this user guide, or reach out to us directly.

Arvig promotes Lifeline Awareness Week

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The Pilot Independent reports...

Digital Connectivity and Lifeline Awareness Week is right around the corner, and Arvig is joining the effort to spread the word about this federal program.

Lifeline provides discounts to help low-income residents connect to the nation’s broadband and phone networks to find jobs, access health care services, connect with family and call for help in an emergency. For some people, being connected can be the difference between social interaction and complete isolation.

Arvig is promoting national Digital Connectivity and Lifeline Awareness Week from Sept. 7 to 13 as part of its commitment to providing resources that make high-speed internet and phone service available to everyone.

Staying connected to local resources and emergency services can improve and possibly save lives; and access to local emergency services and community resources is vital to all residents.

Under the program, low-income residents 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 broadband-qualifying service bill; up to $5.25 off their voice-qualifying service bill; and residents on Tribal lands can qualify for up to an additional $34.25 per month.

More information on program eligibility and rules are available at http://www.lifelinesup port.org

A video in American Sign Language about Lifeline is available at: https://youtu.be/wwkjVrd5xHc

Arvig encourages all eligible customers to sign up at any time by going to https://arvig.com/savings or by calling (888) 992-7844.

Lifeline is a government assistance program that is non-transferable and is limited to one discount per eligible household.

The Broadband Equity Project: Minneapolis gap between broadband availability and adoption

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The Broadband Equity Project highlights the rate of internet/broadband adoption across different zip codes in many major cities and metropolitan areas, and uses census data to find key factors. Unfortunately, they tool only looks at the 7-county metro area, but it is searchable by city and county.

Here’s what they found about Minneapolis:

It’s interesting to scroll over the map, especially if you are focus on the 7-county metro area or part of that area

EVENT Sep 10: New Research Getting to Broadband Adoption for All

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From the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society…

Join us on September 10 at 2:00 p.m. ET for a webinar on broadband affordability and policy. Available via the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society’s YouTube page, the webinar will feature new research about broadband affordability and state legislative approaches to ensure the availability of affordable high-speed internet access. The discussion will highlight how broadband affordability, availability, and adoption relate to each other and present current and future opportunities to improve universal access.

Current federal investment in broadband infrastructure will go a long way to improve broadband availability, but it must be accompanied by affordability support if all Americans are to adopt broadband service. The expiration of the Affordable Connectivity Program in 2024, recent changes to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program’s requirements for a low-cost service option, and possible reforms to the Universal Service Fund have all influenced the current landscape.

Dr. Caroline Stratton, Research Director of the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, will moderate a discussion with:

  • Dr. John Horrigan, Benton Senior Fellow and national expert on technology adoption, digital inclusion, and evaluating the outcomes and impacts of programs designed to promote communications technology adoption and use. Horrigan will share insights from his recent research reports, Budgeting for Broadband and Marking Progress, Targeting Gaps: Lessons from Broadband Adoption Trends, and his past research on the Lifeline Program.
  • Jordan Arnold, Master of Public Affairs candidate at Princeton University. She previously served as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Biden-Harris White House, where she led work on broadband and economic development in the Office of the Chief of Staff. Arnold will present lessons from her new Benton research report about how states are approaching affordability in the absence of federal policy action.
  • Ambika Nair, Community Development Research Analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, conducts research and data analysis on the financial well-being of low- and moderate-income communities. Nair will share findings from a forthcoming publication about the relative affordability of broadband in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods in U.S. cities.

Tune in to learn more about what the practitioner and policymaking communities can do to ensure that low-income households can afford reliable, sustainable access to broadband internet service.

OPPORTUNITY: Funding from NCOA for older adult digital literacy

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Sorry – I misread the deadline. It was Aug 22, NOT open Aug 22 to Oct 1.

The National Council on Aging reports on the opportunity…

The National Council on Aging and AT&T invite senior centers and community-based organizations serving older adults to apply for a new funding opportunity aimed at improving older adults’ skills and confidence in using technology. This initiative helps older adults feel more comfortable with everyday technology, staying connected with friends and family, finding information online, using mobile devices, and protecting themselves from online scams.

More details…

Key highlights of the collaboration with AT&T to help older adults use the internet safely and confidently:

  • Each participating senior center and community-based organization will receive training, materials, and  curriculum to provide in-person workshops and one-to-one support to improve digital literacy.

  • Participating organizations may apply for one of three tiers of funding, each tied to a specific impact goal based on the number of older adult participants they will engage in digital literacy programming. Organizations can select the tier that best matches their capacity and community reach. Funding amounts range from $4,500 to $9,000

  • Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 22, 2025 and the project will begin on Oct.1, 2025

  • Senior centers and community-based organizations in all states are eligible to apply. Those in AT&T’s key U.S. service areas are especially encouraged to apply. (See the map below for AT&T’s key coverage areas.)

Minnesota is not shown as an AT&T service region on their map…

AARP collect stories on how seniors are using broadband and the impact of losing ACP funds

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AARP reports on how low-income former Affordable Connectivity Program recipients use the Internet…

When the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) ended in April 2024, a well-known financial juggling act ensued.

Low-income recipients, now left to pay for their internet services without assistance from the federal program, shuffled payments, negotiated discounts, haggled, and stretched their limited financial resources to remain connected, a recent AARP study showed.

Using interviews, in-home observations, and video diaries to understand how people adapted once the $30 monthly benefit disappeared, the study highlighted how former ACP recipients reacted to the loss of help with a utility that has become commonplace in nearly every societal activity.  Researchers conducted interviews with a dozen former ACP recipients age 50-plus, including six who were interviewed in 2023.

Here’s a collection of one of their videos. There are several in the article.

Impact of BEAD changes on the states depends on the state – in MN 22,000 locations didn’t get bids

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The Institute for Local Self Reliance has a program I try to watch regularly. This week they talked a bit about the potential impact of BEAD changes on the states and specifically talked about Minnesota. They pointed out that 22,000 of the 76,000 BEAD eligible locations got no bid at all and 10 fiber companies dropped out of bidding. (Map of the 76,000 locations at right.) The podcaster noted that part of the problem may have the lack of early response to the RDOF results and not being more aggressive in trying to make more addresses BEAD eligible on the front end. That being said, I think Minnesota is one of the states that is pushing back on changes now by encouraging letters of support from community leaders to include with the final proposal when submitted.

EVENT Sep 10: Webinar: Sustainable Computer Ownership Strategies for Rural Communities

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An invitation from Digitunity for folks working on digital inclusion…

Join Digitunity for a live session focused on real-world solutions and actionable insights for rural communities working to close the computer ownership gap.

Sustainable Rural Solutions: Key Strategies for Computer Ownership Ecosystems September 10, 2025 | 1–2 PM EDT

Register here

Across the U.S., rural communities face persistent barriers to computer ownership. Digitunity, in collaboration with Brian Whitacre, Professor at Oklahoma State University, has just released a new report spotlighting proven strategies for building sustainable computer ownership ecosystems.

Meet Our Panel:

  • Brian Whitacre, Professor, Oklahoma State University
  • Deborah L. Mathews, Organizational Strategy Consultant and Program Evaluator
  • Karisa Tashjian, Senior Director of Programs and Strategic Partnerships, Digitunity

What to Expect:

  • Fresh research insights on rural computer ownership and why traditional solutions fall short
  • Actionable strategies to build local partnerships, foster sustainable systems, and measure community impact
  • Case studies and real-world examples from successful efforts in Mississippi and Arizona
  • Live Q&A with the authors and project leads

Mark your calendar and register today! We hope you’ll join us for this timely and practical discussion.

OPPORTUNITY: Net Inclusion 2026 Call for Proposals Due Monday Aug 25

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An invitation from the NDIA to present at their annual conference…

Just a quick reminder that proposals are due Monday, 8/25. Here are helpful links, with more found in the FAQ:

Also, another reminder that all speakers and proposers must be NDIA affiliates. Membership is FREE, and the benefits are PLENTIFUL! Here’s the link:

Computer ownership is top priority for “successful internet access”

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A recent report from the Journal of Computer-Mediated  Communications found…

Both computers and internet access are important tools. They are used to make purchases, get an education, and access healthcare, among other things. But which of these resources is more important? Is it more valuable to use a computer or have the internet at home? One way to try to answer this question is by looking at patterns in the relationship between having in-home internet or using a computer and using the internet in beneficial ways (e.g., eHealth, job searches, and government services). Analysis of census data from 2021 and 2023 finds that using a computer is more strongly associated with beneficial uses of the internet than having in-home internet. Also, in a comparison of households where people use computers but do not have the internet with households that have the internet but do not use computers, we find that households with computers and no internet are more likely to use the internet in beneficial ways. These benefits are generally enhanced when the computers work well. Altogether, these data support the argument that although both in-home internet and computers are important, governments, schools, and other organizations should help ensure that people have reliable access to computers at home.

In some ways, this feels like a chicken and egg situation and in the conclusion of the report, the authors seem to recognize that both are important…

Despite the limitations of cross-sectional data, these findings underscore the role that computers play in ensuring successful internet access. Although this may seem obvious, U.S. policy has historically emphasized provisions of internet service (King & Gonzales, 2023), a conversation that was magnified for important reasons during COVID-19. We do not mean to diminish the importance of in-home internet service, particularly in homes with smartphone users. Internet access is critical for daily life in industrialized contexts, and the enormously expensive nature of broadband infrastructure often requires government intervention. But, as a result, policies may at times overlook the essential nature of having physical and operational access to a reliable computer. Researchers should continue to explore the barriers that people face in successfully accessing a computer. With a substantial percent of the U.S. population still without in-home internet or computer access, there is still work to be done.

“Digital literacy isn’t a luxury. It’s health care access…” Op Ed in Star Tribune

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The Minnesota Star Tribune posts an Op Ed from a technology services coordinator at Senior Community Services, a nonprofit program based in Minnetonka…

Retirement, which should be relaxing, becomes a frustrating tangle of technology to unweave in order to access basic benefits. Unfortunate considering it could be a resource that greatly augments real life.

The hurdles aren’t lack of intelligence or effort. My work has taught me that using technology is a learned skill — sometimes intuitive, sometimes learned through repetition and no logic at all.

Not everyone has broadband access either, or a working device, in addition to the skills to navigate it all. Assuming everyone does is either dangerously optimistic or willfully naive. And yet we’re cutting federal digital equity funding. How are we to ensure these essential systems remain accessible? Technology becomes a barrier, not a benefit.

Digital literacy isn’t a luxury. It’s health care access, financial safety and civic engagement. In Minnesota alone, hundreds of thousands of households lack basic broadband speed to support access to video telehealth.

If the connection is unstable, video calls with a doctor can drop, freeze or lag. To the average tech user, these glitches are minor annoyances. But for someone who isn’t tech-savvy, they’re debilitating. But with the end of programs like the Affordable Connectivity Program and the derailment of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program, low-income and rural households are being cut off from both the infrastructure and the support they need to stay connected.

Even if we solve the infrastructure problem, anyone who has upgraded their cellphone in the past few years could tell you that services and devices are more expensive than ever. I would never recommend a refurbished, low-cost, generic-brand device to an older adult. They’re often buggy and their user experience is the least intuitive and user-friendly interface I’ve seen.

Thankfully, local programs are stepping in to help. Many libraries now offer computer help clinics, and nonprofits, like ours, hold digital literacy sessions at senior centers and community hubs across the metro.

Volunteers and staff are helping older Minnesotans use their smartphone and tablets and build confidence in this new, vulnerable digital landscape.

NTIA tells states not to lower broadband costs or risk BEAD funding

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Ars Technica reports...

The Trump administration is telling states they will be shut out of a $42 billion broadband deployment fund if they set the rates that Internet service providers receiving subsidies are allowed to charge people with low incomes.

The latest version of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) FAQ on the grant program, released today, is a challenge to states considering laws that would force Internet providers to offer cheap plans to people who meet income eligibility guidelines. One state already has such a law: New York requires ISPs with over 20,000 customers in the state to offer $15 broadband plans with download speeds of at least 25Mbps, or $20-per-month service with 200Mbps speeds.

Here are some specifics on the language…

The NTIA rules concern the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, which is distributing $42.45 billion to states for grants that would be given to ISPs that expand broadband access. Although the US law that created BEAD requires Internet providers receiving federal funds to offer at least one “low-cost broadband service option for eligible subscribers,” it also says the NTIA may not “regulate the rates charged for broadband service.”

Broadband advocates urge the FCC to continue assessing broadband affordability and adoption

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Broadband Breakfast reports…

The Federal Communications Commission should still assess broadband affordability and adoption as part of its annual report on deployment, consumer advocates told the agency.

The FCC is set to vote Thursday on a notice of inquiry that would kick off its annual report on whether broadband “is being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion.” The agency last year under Democratic chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel assessed affordability and adoption as part of the report, which the public draft of the notice would propose to scrap.

The public draft of the inquiry said that section 706 of the Communications Act, which mandates the report, only calls for assessing incremental infrastructure deployment and that the other inquiries, which FCC Chairman Brendan Carr criticized at the time, were unnecessary. Representatives from Public Knowledge, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, and X-Lab met last week with staff from the offices of commissioners Olivia Trusty and Anna Gomez to urge against the move.