Digital Inclusion Research Webinar Series
Join us during Digital Inclusion Week for a series of webinars highlighting the latest research on digital inclusion. Each webinar focuses on a timely topic, elevating policy-driven scholarship. The presentations will feature emerging methodologies, best practices and needs for future research.
Academics, researchers, policymakers and community development practitioners are encouraged to register for one or more of the sessions.
Webinars
Oct. 8, 2–3:30 p.m. CT
Following the Dollars: Measuring the Efficacy of Federal Broadband Funding
This webinar features research evaluating past and present federal broadband programs and their underlying data, providing insight into the policies’ design, implementation, and sustainability.
- Moderator: Kassandra Huhn, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
- Is Federal Broadband Funding Going to States that Need it the Most?
Marycruz De Leon, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas - The Efficacy of the Connect America Fund in Addressing U.S. Internet Access Inequities
Haarika Manda, University of California, Santa Barbara - The Challenging Path to Broadband Internet Access Equity
Jonatas Marques, University of Chicago - Addressing Disparities in Broadband Access: Opportunities for Mission-Aligned Projects
Christa Vinson, Rural LISC
Oct. 9, 10–11:30 a.m. CT
The Broadband Affordability Burden: Exploring Research and Policies for Affordable High-Speed Internet for All
This webinar features research on the cost and affordability of high-speed broadband, especially for low- and moderate-income households. It looks at the household factors associated with the broadband cost burden, the implications of the end of the Affordable Connectivity Program and strategies for making broadband affordable for all.
- Moderator: Ambika Nair, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
- Broadband Affordability in NY State and the Bronx
Oscar Pat-Osagie, The Brox Community Foundation - What Factors Are Associated with Broadband Affordability?
Colby Humphrey, Pew Charitable Trusts - The End of ACP and Focusing on Affordability for Low-and-Moderate Income Families
Revati Prasad, Benton Institute - No Home Left Offline: Strategies for Closing the Broadband Affordability Gap
Katherine Aquino, Education Superhighway
Oct. 10, 12–1:30 p.m. CT
Evaluating Digital Skills: Data, Measurement Tools, and Outcomes
This webinar highlights research on evaluating digital skill levels and the implications for workforce participation. It addresses methods for measuring digital skills and the importance of understanding varying skill levels to help close the digital skill divide.
- Moderator: Haley Glover, Senior Director, UpSkill America
- Occupational Mobility Explorer Demo
Theresa Dunne, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia - What the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) Can Tell Us About the Digital Skills of U.S. Adults
Emily Pawlowski, American Institutes for Research - Sharing Insights from Hawaii’s Digital Skills and Literacy Initiatives
Maricar Pilotin-Freitas, Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations: - Measuring Digital Skills with Northstar Digital Literacy
Theresa Sladek, Literacy Minnesota
Oct. 11, 11 a.m. –12:30 p.m. CT
Roundtable Discussion
We will wrap up the week with a roundtable discussion to further explore the session topics and network. Space is limited.
About this series
This webinar series is a follow-up to the Digital Inclusion Research Forum hosted by the Federal Reserve Banks of Atlanta, Dallas, Kansas City and Philadelphia in 2023.
The forum serves as a platform to share digital inclusion research and provide context for practitioners to understand and apply research to their work. It also highlights opportunities for new research.