Digital Inclusion: The Impact of Refugee Providers on State Policy
Digital inclusion (DI) is a prerequisite to recovery from COVID-19 and to refugee self-sufficiency. The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) operationalizes the concept of digital inclusion into five elements: “1.) affordable, robust broadband internet service; 2.) internet-enabled devices that meet the needs of the user; 3.) access to digital literacy training; 4.) quality technical support; and 5.) applications and online content designed to enable and encourage self-sufficiency, participation and collaboration.” Digitally excluded communities are largely unable to access health guidelines, telehealth services, online employment, online education, public services, or online components of democratic processes.
Refugees & Digital Inclusion
Refugees who arrive in the United States without significant prior experience utilizing digital tools must build their digital connection from the ground up: acquiring a home broadband subscription, devices, and digital literacy training. To meet these needs, refugee services providers develop uniquely comprehensive programming—and can provide unique input into state-level digital inclusion policy. By actively participating in the DI policy process, refugee providers can expand their capacity to meet client’s needs and assist their communities.
Common Obstacles:
While all 50 states have a broadband body, most focus solely on infrastructure expansion in rural areas. As other agencies attempt to address DI needs in response to COVID, new programming has both duplicated existing efforts and omitted certain communities. Coordination is needed.
Solutions:
If interested in pursuing DI policy, begin by reading your state’s most recent broadband plan. The plan will provide you with an overview of efforts to date and the framework through which your state is conceptualizing broadband expansion. All solutions should include interagency and cross-sector collaboration, increased capacity, resources, and strategic planning, and public-private partnerships.
State Coordination & Funding
Refugee providers can create coalitional efforts to establish a Full-Time DI Coordinator or reorient a member of the Broadband Office to:
Develop a statewide Digital Inclusion Strategic Plan;
Administer a public-private matching grant program available to state agencies, local governments, and community-based organizations; and
Chair a Coordinating Body that provides expertise and input on DI planning and informs grant program funding priorities.
Broadband Planning
Refugee providers should participate in the broadband planning process, advocating for the inclusion of the following elements in their state’s broadband map:
Broadband subscription rates and prices;
Device accessibility;
Literacy evaluations;
Usage patterns;
Community resources/anchor institutions;
Socioeconomic factors.
Reorienting the mapping process is the first step to reorienting state targets and resources.
Workforce Development Integration
Refugee services providers can advance policy to integrate DI efforts into state-run workforce development programming. If a service provider would like to start or expand in-house DI programming, the service provider should secure Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding directly.
Photo by Marvin Meyer on Unsplash