Expanding Digital Inclusion Via the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

The new Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes landmark investments in digital inclusion through the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program and $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act.

But what will the funding do? And what should workforce & education advocates, practitioners and state officials do to make the most of this once-in-a-generation investment in digital skills, inclusion, and equity?

We helped advocate for this investment – and now it’s time to help implement the law so the funding improves the economic and civic life of our communities.

Expanding Digital Inclusion via the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law  is designed to help state officials and skills advocates:

  • boost the number of residents with in-demand digital skills;
  • close the “homework gap” and other digital inclusion challenges facing students and workers;
  • ensure that local employers have the workforce they need.

These recommendations can also help states’ broadband deployment projects succeed by ensuring that they have sufficient well-qualified workers for new infrastructure projects.

 

These recommendations were made possible by generous support from Walmart. We thank them for their support but acknowledge that the findings, conclusions, and recommendations presented in this report are those of National Skills Coalition alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Walmart.