Best Practices

Whether you’re looking to enhance your skills as a digital equity practitioner or advocate or simply want to stay informed on the latest research, statistics, and best practices regarding the digital divide, this page offers valuable resources.

Best Practices

If you work in the field of digital equity and are looking to enhance your programs, here are some essential best practices and resources to guide you.

National Digital Inclusion Alliance Guides

A comprehensive guide on designing, researching, and implementing digital inclusion programs, offering key best practices.

Digital Inclusion Start-Up Manual

A step-by-step guide for creating community-based digital inclusion programs. It focuses on increasing access to technology through broadband, devices, digital literacy training, and tech support.

Digital Inclusion Coalition Guidebook

Provides an in-depth look at successful coalition models, highlighting recurring themes, lessons learned, best practices, and specific recommendations from the field.

Further Learning

Capacity Building Online Courses

Community Tech Network (CTN) offers online courses for digital equity practitioners, including those for technology instructors, librarians, digital navigators, and program managers. Specialized courses, such as digital equity in healthcare, are also available. Packages for organizations include personalized advice and coaching.

NDIA Affiliate Calls

U.S.-based nonprofits and government agencies can join the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) as affiliates and participate in monthly Community Calls (held on the third Friday of each month at 1 PM ET). These calls share national resources and practical strategies. Becoming an affiliate is free.

Other Useful Resources

Technology Class Curriculum

CTN offers ready-made curricula available for licensing in more than nine languages, tailored for various devices and skill levels. Each package includes a teacher guide, learner workbook, and supplemental resources.

Research & Data

Current Statistics, Dashboards, and Maps

Internet and Broadband Fact Sheet, Pew Research

Offers insights into internet usage and broadband adoption rates across different age groups over time.

Microsoft Interactive Data Dashboard

A user-friendly database with state-level statistics on computer ownership, broadband adoption rates, and more.

FCC National Broadband Map

Displays internet service availability across the U.S. as reported by internet service providers (ISPs).

Purdue Center Digital Divide Index

Ranks the intensity of the digital divide at the census zone level, evaluating factors such as broadband infrastructure, adoption, device ownership, and internet speeds.

Purdue Center Digital Distress Map

Categorizes U.S. areas as experiencing low, medium, or high digital distress, using metrics such as reliance on mobile devices and lack of broadband access.

Technology Policy Institute Broadband Map

Visualizes broadband access, adoption, and usage across the United States.

Case Studies and Other Reports

Digital Equity Toolkit for Rural Communities in CA

Strategies and case studies on how rural public libraries and educational institutions can improve broadband access and provide essential tech services to underserved communities.

Community Connect: Fostering Digital Access – Practitioner’s Guide

Practical tips, strategies, and program ideas for libraries—especially in rural areas—to help community members get online.

A Facilitator Guide for Catalyzing Immigrant and Refugee Community Members

This guide helps adult education practitioners and immigrant service organizations advocate for digital inclusion. It emphasizes the importance of supporting immigrants and refugees not only as learners but also as storytellers and advocates for their own experiences with the digital divide.

Community Tech Network Case Studies and Reports

CTN regularly publishes case studies and reports highlighting its digital equity initiatives and the lessons learned.

Achieving Digital Equity–The Oakland Town Link Program Playbook

Offers strategies for local governments and organizations seeking to create digital inclusion programs, with recommendations on building coalitions, outreach, and digital navigator initiatives.

Connecting Rural Americans with Technology: Lessons from Senior Planet

Explores how technology training can address the challenges of social isolation and digital skills in rural, older populations.

Advocacy

Advocacy plays a critical role in advancing digital equity, ensuring that every community has access to affordable broadband, devices, and digital skills training.

This section highlights key federal and state legislation that has shaped digital inclusion efforts, as well as essential tools and resources to help you become an effective advocate for closing the digital divide.

Key Federal Legislation

Lifeline: Created by the FCC in 1985, Lifeline initially provided discounts to low-income households for landline phone bills. It has since expanded to include mobile phone and broadband services. However, the discount—typically capped at $9.25 per month—often covers only a small portion of home internet costs.

Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA): Signed into law in 2021, this is one of the largest infrastructure bills in U.S. history. It allocated significant funding for digital equity, with several programs emerging from it:

The Digital Equity Act: Provides funding to states, Tribal governments, territories, and nonprofits to develop and implement digital inclusion programs. These initiatives aim to expand broadband access, offer affordable devices, and provide digital skills training to underserved communities.

Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD): Allocated over $42 billion to develop broadband infrastructure, such as fiber optic networks and wireless towers, in underserved communities.

Affordable Connectivity Program: Provided a $30 monthly discount ($75 on Tribal lands) for eligible low-income households to apply to their internet bills. (Learn more about the ACP).

Key Legislation in California

California Advanced Services Fund (CASF): Created in 2007 to fund broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas, it was expanded through the Internet for All Act in 2017 to also support digital skills and broadband adoption programs.

Broadband for All Act: A $6 billion initiative to expand broadband access across the state, particularly in rural areas. Discussions are ongoing to further extend this program.

Digital Equity Bill of Rights: This groundbreaking resolution emphasizes universal access to affordable broadband, digital skills, and devices for all residents. Passed in 2023, it positions California as a national leader in digital equity.

Policy Briefs

Pillars, Policies, And Plausible Pathways Linking Digital Inclusion And Health Equity (2024)

This Health Policy Brief explores the connection between digital inclusion and health equity, highlighting how broadband, devices, digital skills, and tech support impact health outcomes. Provides policy recommendations.

Reducing the Digital Divide for Families: State and Local Policy Opportunities (2024)

Analyzes gaps in broadband access, affordability, and utilization, and their effects on education, employment, and health outcomes, particularly in marginalized communities. Suggests policy solutions to bridge these gaps.

Digital Equity: A Key to Children’s Health & Racial Justice (2023-2024)

Explains how digital inequities impact healthcare, education, and housing, particularly for BIPOC communities, and provides policy recommendations to address these gaps and improve children’s health and well-being.

Achieving Universal Broadband in California (2023)

Offers detailed policy recommendations, including improving mapping accuracy, expanding technical assistance, and promoting affordability to boost broadband adoption.

Advocacy Toolkits

Education SuperHighway Advocacy Toolkit

Free downloadable resources, including a social media toolkit, talking points, and call scripts for advocating affordable broadband access.

NDIA ACP Advocacy

Provides talking points and sample letters to advocate for the reinstatement of the Affordable Connectivity Program or a similar initiative.

Internet for All Now–Low-Cost Offers Toolkit

Provides pre-made graphics, social media content, postcards, and flyers to promote low-cost internet options. Available in multiple languages, the materials can be customized with your organization’s logo.

Other Resources

Broadband 101

A quick guide to understanding the core components of broadband infrastructure—backbone, middle mile, and last mile—along with key terms and insights into wired vs. wireless broadband. Perfect for grasping the basics of internet access challenges in underserved areas.

CalMatters Digital Democracy Tool

Tracks public hearings, political donations, bills, and votes, allowing users to search topics like digital equity and stay informed on legislative activity related to broadband access and digital inclusion.

Internet for All Now

Under the website’s ‘Action’ tab, you can review summaries of key legislation related to digital equity and take action by signing letters of support. You can also subscribe to receive legislative action alerts to stay informed.

California Alliance for Digital Equity (CADE)

Join CADE to engage in digital inclusion advocacy through town halls, quarterly virtual meetings, and ongoing campaigns.

Benton Institute for Broadband & Society

Stay updated on national digital equity policy news by signing up for Benton’s daily or weekly email digest.

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