This week in “What’s New in Digital Equity” — our weekly look at government digital equity and broadband news — we have a number of interesting items, which you can jump to with the links below:
REGISTER FOR BAY AREA SUMMIT
The San Francisco Tech Council (SFTC) is hosting the 2025 Bay Area Digital Inclusion Summit on Oct. 30. Registration is open, with discounted prices available until Oct. 1.
The summit is intended to convene stakeholders across sectors, including nonprofits, government, health and workforce partners, and organizations that are funding digital equity work in the community.
SFTC was launched in 2015 to focus on the barriers to digital equity, specifically for older adults and people with disabilities, and it is funded by the San Francisco Department of Disability and Aging Services (DAS) and Metta Fund.
The event will feature a keynote presentation from the director of #OaklandUndivided, a talk hosted by the California Department of Technology’s deputy director of broadband and digital literacy, and multiple panels and breakout sessions. Topics range from navigating funding to digital upskilling, to the impact of AI on digital equity work.
Event organizers are still seeking presenters to speak during the Lightning Round talks, which are three- to four-minute presentations to share projects or ideas. Applications are open.
This event is supported by DAS, Metta Fund, AT&T, Comcast, and Kaiser Permanente.
SFTC’s role is to serve as the space for stakeholders to explore opportunities to support digital inclusion work — building on the trainings provided at libraries and more than 50 senior tech lab sites throughout the city and advancing the goals laid out in the city’s strategic plan for digital equity.
The 2024 Bay Area Digital Equity Summit brought together 135 regional practitioners and stakeholders.
PUERTO RICO OFFERS FREE TECH TRAINING
Free technology training will be available to Puerto Ricans through a new program.
A new agreement between Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón and Amazon Web Services established the Technology Skills Training Program, which will offer free instruction in technology areas including artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and live sessions with experts.
The first phase of the program will serve up to 50,000 participants, starting with students in the public school system and then expanding.
The only participation requirement is access to the Internet and a device through which to use it. The program aims to support education and workforce goals.
“We are equipping our workforce and entrepreneurs with the tools they need to succeed,” González-Colón said in a statement, underlining that through this partnership, the program is available at no cost to Puerto Rico government.
ARLINGTON COUNTY INVESTS IN DIGITAL EQUITY
In local news, Arlington County, Va., has authorized $500,000 in the first round of grants under its Digital Equity Initiative.
These awards will support digital skill-building, device access, and notably, a new digital navigator program.
The Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development led the grant offering and proposal review process. Twenty-three applications were evaluated based on feasibility, design, evaluation and impact. Seven groups will be receiving the grants, including the Alliance for Arlington Senior Programs and the Shirlington Employment and Education Center. One recipient, Computer CORE, will deploy eight digital navigators across the county.
The initiative is funded with proceeds from JBG Smith in exchange for access to the county-owned fiber network.
REPORT: BROADBAND WORKFORCE GROWTH
A workforce preparedness survey’s findings revealed a growing trend of organizations implementing formal training programs to support the creation of a fiber-optic workforce.
The survey, which comes from the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) and NCTI, gathered insight from fiber broadband providers, contractors, and other industry companies.
The report found that more than 50 percent of respondents recognize the importance of structured training programs. On-the-job training remains common, but the trend is shifting towards more comprehensive training. Companies are investing in credentialing and career pathways to attract younger employees.
“Key recommendations include the adoption of standardized, scalable training programs, investing in existing and future employees, and stronger partnerships between industry stakeholders, educational institutions, and government entities,” Deborah Kish, FBA vice president of research and workforce development, said in a statement.
An Oct. 14 webinar will explore the survey findings further.
FIBER COMING TO NORTHERN NEVADA
A 404-mile-long buried fiber-optic network in Nevada has been approved.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) approved the Interstate 80 Middle Mile Project this week, which is expected to improve Internet access and quality in northern Nevada. BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land on behalf of U.S. residents, with the mission of sustaining these lands for public use.
The Nevada Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation and Technology is coordinating broadband planning, mapping, and procurement for this project.
Large parts of northern Nevada are considered to be rural, and rural communities face continued barriers to digital equity. A Connected Nation study released last week found that nearly one-third of rural households surveyed are “Internet insecure,” meaning they experienced a gap in home Internet service in the past year.
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