National Digital Inclusion Alliance

National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) is a US nonprofit organization that brings together over 600 non-profit organizations, policy-makers, and academics to advocate for national access to broadband and to put an end to the multiple digital divides.[1] NDIA has provided community-vetted definitions of digital equity and digital inclusion,[2] puts on an annual conference called Net Inclusion,[3] and sponsors an annual Digital Inclusion Week.[4]

National Digital Inclusion Alliance
FoundedMay 2015
FounderAngela Siefer
TypeNon-profit Organization
FocusA Unified Voice for Digital Inclusion Policies and Programs
Members
604 affiliated organizations
Websitewww.digitalinclusion.org

NDIA argues that the US government needs "an organized federal strategy" to get broadband to rural and other underserved areas and have worked to support the expansion of the Federal Communications Commission's Lifeline program to expand to include broadband subsidies.[5][6]

NDIA was founded in May 2015 under the auspices of the PAST Foundation in order to be "a unified voice for local technology training, home broadband access, and public broadband access programs."[7][8] NDIA is a membership-based organization, and is an independent 501(c)(3) as of 2021.[9] As of October 2021, NDIA had 604 affiliated organizations.[10]

Impact edit

NDIA uses data from the American Community Survey to highlight how many households in the U.S. lack "fixed broadband internet subscriptions" to create a list of America's worst connected cities.[11][12][13]

Using FCC broadband availability data, NDIA did a six-month mapping analysis of Cleveland neighborhoods showing the distribution of its highest and lowest internet speeds.[14][15] Using this data, they accused AT&T of "digital redlining" via a formal complaint with the FCC claiming AT&T did not make upgrades in low-income neighborhoods while deploying fiber in wealthier neighborhoods.[16][17][18][19] Former FCC Chairman Ajit Pai used this report to encourage the creation of "Gigabit Opportunity Zones" in low-income areas in the U.S.[20][21]

Publications edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Innovation Hub". WGBH. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  2. ^ "Definitions". NDIA. 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  3. ^ "Net Inclusion 2018". NDIA. 25 August 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  4. ^ "Digital Inclusion Week". NDIA. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  5. ^ Arndt, Rachel (November 7, 2017). "Limited broadband stymies telemedicine adoption, Senate hears". Modern Healthcare. Crain Communications, Inc. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  6. ^ Greenberg, Julia (May 31, 2015). "Why Helping the Poor Pay for Broadband Is Good for Us All". Wired. Condé Nast. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  7. ^ Trent, Lori (2015). "NDIA". PAST Foundation. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  8. ^ Siefer, Angela (14 May 2015). "The Right Time for a National Digital Inclusion Alliance". NDIA.
  9. ^ "NDIA Guidestar Profile". 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  10. ^ "Affiliates". 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  11. ^ Lewontin, Alex (June 12, 2018). "Think your internet is bad? You should live in Cary. Really, you should". News & Observer. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  12. ^ Plautz, Jason (June 11, 2018). "Brownsville, TX and Detroit top list of cities with least broadband access". Smart Cities Dive. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  13. ^ Sells, Toby (June 14, 2018). "Report: Half of Memphis Homes Not Connected to Broadband". Memphis Flyer. Contemporary Media. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  14. ^ Callahan, Bill (10 March 2017). "AT&T's Digital Redlining Of Cleveland". NDIA. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  15. ^ Sandy, Eric (April 12, 2017). "State Laws Allowed AT&T to Exclude Cleveland's Poorest Neighborhoods From High-Speed Internet Service". Cleveland Scene. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  16. ^ Eggerton, John (Mar 10, 2017). "AT&T Accused of Digital Redlining in Cleveland". Multichannel Nes. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  17. ^ Eggerton, John (Aug 24, 2017). "Broadband Redlining Complaint Filed Against AT&T at FCC". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  18. ^ Danser, Courtney (August 25, 2017). "Cleveland residents file formal FCC complaint over alleged AT&T redlining". News 5 Cleveland. Scripps TV Station Group. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  19. ^ Stella, Shiva (10 March 2017). "Public Knowledge Responds to NDIA Report Indicating AT&T Discrimination in Ohio". Public Knowledge. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  20. ^ Pai, Ajit (March 15, 2017). "REMARKS OF FCC CHAIRMAN AJIT PAI AT CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY'S SOFTWARE ENGINEERING INSTITUTE" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  21. ^ Sandy, Eric. "Attorneys May Sue AT&T Over 'Digital Redlining' in Cleveland, Other Major Cities: UPDATE". Cleveland Scene. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  22. ^ "Limiting Broadband Investment to "Rural Only" Discriminates Against Black Americans and other Communities of Color". National Digital Inclusion Alliance. Retrieved 2021-10-12.