This year marks the sixth annual Digital Inclusion Week, a national event hosted October 3-7 this year to elevate digital equity work happening throughout the country.
Digital inclusion efforts address three main areas: affordable internet, access to appropriate devices, and digital skills training – basic necessities that millions of Americans are living without.
The potentially once-in-a-lifetime funding opportunities through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program and Digital Equity Act is fueling excitement during the week-long event for digital inclusion organizations nationwide, calling this “the moment for digital equity.”
The observance of Digital Inclusion Week seeks to increase public knowledge of the importance of digital equity, and encourage digital inclusion efforts across our city to improve broadband access, foster adoption, and promote digital literacy.
The Office for Community Technology (OCT) is hosting two events on Monday October 3 to kick off DIW 2022!
A Community Roundtable convened by Commissioner Carmen Rubio, the City of Portland’s Office for Community Technology, and U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici. The Roundtable brings community leaders together to continue to strategize and plan action steps to advocate for state and federal funding, mobilize local funding opportunities, and map out the efforts of public agencies, schools, libraries, and community-based organizations to collectively achieve Digital Equity for All. For more information about outcomes from the Roundtable or to join future discussions, send us an email to connectingportland@portlandoreg… with subject "Roundtable".
OCT and COMCAST are partnering up to host a Digital Inclusion and Internet Access Resource Fair!
The public event, taking place at The Rosewood Initiative, includes access to:
- Digital Navigator staff from AfroVillage, The Rosewood Initiative, Free Geek, and the United Congolese Community Organization;
- Comcast representatives, who can assist with sign up for low-cost and free internet service programs such as Comcast Internet Essentials and the Affordable Connectivity Program;
- Digital skills trainings provided by Free Geek staff;
- Free food from a local Hawaiian food cart; AND
- The opportunity to win a Dell laptop or Chromebook!
