On Tuesday, October 4, 2022, San Francisco is lighting up City Hall in teal in honor of Digital Inclusion Week in partnership with the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), SF Tech Council, and other local partners.
This year marks the sixth annual Digital Inclusion Week, a national event hosted October 3-7 to elevate awareness and recognition of local solutions addressing internet access, access to high quality devices, digital literacy training, and IT support.
Digital inclusion efforts address three main areas: affordable internet, access to appropriate devices, and digital skills training – basic necessities that millions of Americans are living without. Digital resources available through the City and County of San Francisco and local partners address these digital inequalities to help bridge the gap between those who have ready access to computers and the internet, and those who do not.
Through San Francisco’s nationally-recognized Fiber to Housing program, more than 7,900 households of households have been connected to high-quality internet services. Digital equity grants provided by the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) have funded digital skill training pilots through a number of community-based organizations, including digital literacy training for formerly incarcerated individuals and justice system-involved transitional age youth, an intergenerational digital hub for youth and seniors in Chinatown, a digital media program for people experiencing homelessness, and career-focused digital skills training for people with disabilities.
As Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funding becomes available, digital inclusion leaders across the country are calling on their state leaders to prioritize state digital equity plans and budgets to bridge the digital divide. These funding opportunities through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program and Digital Equity Act accelerate efforts for digital inclusion organizations nationwide.
Advocates for digital equity are encouraged to engage their state and local elected officials in conversations about digital equity during Digital Inclusion Week. For a list of resources and local organizations providing digital equity services for San Francisco residents, visit sf.gov/information/digital-equity.
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