As part of National Digital Inclusion Week, running October 3-7, the City of Seattle is a participating agency helping to spread awareness, recognition, and celebration of digital inclusion and access. The City of Seattle has been supporting digital equity work since 1997. Over the years, as technology has evolved, so has the way we serve residents.
The creation of the Digital Equity team supports this work and our mission that all residents have access to reliable and affordable high-speed internet service and have the skills needed to seek education, jobs, housing, and medical care. The team’s vision is a city where technology’s opportunities equitably empower all residents and communities – especially those who are historically underserved or underrepresented.
Below is a guide of the many digital support programs the City of Seattle offers residents and organizations within the City.
Guided by the Internet for All Seattle strategic plan in the Internet for All Seattle initiative, the team supports the City’s annual funding opportunities to community organizations through the Digital Equity Grants, including the Technology Matching fund and the newly created Digital Navigator Cohort. The team also assists organizations to obtain free high-speed internet services through the City’s Access for All Seattle program.
Helping residents find free or low-cost internet service is another priority. Residents can search for the nearest City-offered Wi-Fi spots on the Free Public Wi-Fi map, learn about the monthly internet discount available through the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (City of Seattle) and other low-cost offerings on the Low-Cost Home Internet Access for Low-Income Residents.
Data and research are important to understand the technology gaps that exist and to track Seattle’s progress in moving to greater equity. We publish key metrics on the City’s efforts on the Internet for All Dashboards and conduct research every four to five years to update the Technology Access & Adoption research study. This study will be revised in 2023 to capture Seattle residents’ technology adoption since the pandemic.
The Digital Equity Learning Network of Seattle & King County is a coalition for organizations to learn and exchange information about helping the community with digital equity. The city is a founder and our team shares resources we find through this network.
The Digital Equity team shares other digital resources:
•TechConnect Washington offer technology help in multiple languages.
• Workforce Development Council’s Digital Equity Asset Map lists where people can go for training or • help using the internet and technology in our area.
• NorthStar is an online tool that lets you test your digital literacy and build skills.
• LearnFree.org provides a variety of technology training online.
• Senior Planet and Cyber-Seniors offer online help and a wide range of sessions about technology and many other topics.
The City of Seattle is participating in Digital Inclusion Week, an annual week of awareness, recognition, and celebration to promote digital equity and awareness in communities. This week, we’ll feature a series of blog posts about the work the City of Seattle does for digital equity. This is the first blog post in our series of Digital Equity work in the City of Seattle. Stay tuned for more blog posts this week. Be sure to follow Seattle IT on social media this week for more information about the work we do for digital equity.
Above article by Delia Burke, digital equity advisor for the City of Seattle.