Digital Equity Leaders Network
What is the Digital Equity Leaders Network (DELN)?
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s BroadbandUSA program convenes and facilitates the Digital Equity Leaders Network (DELN), a community of practitioners who work on increasing digital equity and digital inclusion and access at the local, county, state, government as well as the community level.
DELN participants meet virtually monthly. Participants share priorities and best practices and discuss emerging telecommunications policy issues at the federal and local level. The DELN provides a forum to strengthen policy and program connections among local, state jurisdictions and federal agencies, providing opportunities to improve funding coordination, align policies and address barriers to collaboration across states and agencies. BroadbandUSA works with DELN participants to support technical assistance offerings for communities, businesses and organizations at the local, regional and state level.
Who participates?
The DELN has experienced tremendous growth over the past several years, with staff from 48 cities, 11 counties, and 25 states and territories actively participating in the group. Since each locality and community approaches digital equity, digital inclusion, broadband access differently, a variety of local and state level offices participate in the DELN. Participants are usually part of a dedicated digital equity office or programs in their local or county government or have identified digital equity and broadband as a specific responsibility within their agency or department. The positions generally reside in the mayors' or county executives' offices, the offices of technology and innovation, economic development, the public library or local education offices, the public utility/public service commission, or newly formed digital equity offices. Many participants have also formed multi-partnered coalitions and partnerships that include other local government agencies, internet service providers, nonprofit and community based organizations, and members of the local community.
What digital equity and broadband activities happen at the local level?
The BroadbandUSA website lists digital inclusion programs across state, local, and county governments. While most programs focus on digital equity, digital inclusion, and workforce development, some address broadband access and infrastructure. Other topic areas include telehealth/telemedicine, education, digital literacy skill development and training, K-12 and adult STEM/STEAM programs, IT career advancement training and employment, economic development, digital equity and broadband mapping, digital equity investments, technical assistance, policy improvements and interventions, and innovation. Click on the local map to learn more.
For more information, contact [email protected].