Digital equity and inclusion – the idea of connecting everyone to an accessible, affordable internet – is critical for the advancement of Americans from all walks of life throughout the country, especially as the world is becoming increasingly connected. It has never been more important than right now, at a time when digital equity funding is being illegally withheld, broadband programs are reportedly being redesigned to benefit the president’s top donor over everyday consumers, and lawmakers failed to properly address the broadband affordability crisis. In this wake, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), a national nonprofit organization and longtime ally of Public Knowledge, is at the forefront of the fight for digital inclusion, supporting its over 1,900 affiliates in advancing digital equity and serving as an exemplar of how an organization can bring passionate folks together to achieve actionable policy progress.
Last month, Public Knowledge’s Alisa Valentin, Nat Purser, and I joined NDIA, over 900 of its affiliates from across the country, and several other organizations at NDIA’s annual Net Inclusion conference. Net Inclusion 2025 was held from May 20-22 at the Gila River Indian Community just outside of Phoenix, Arizona. We gathered to discuss the state of digital inclusion, share stories, think creatively about how to enhance digital inclusion for all, and strategize on how to close the digital divide.
Among the excellent programming and captivating discussions, Public Knowledge led two highly attended sessions:
I led the first, a three-hour workshop titled “Breaking Ground: From Grassroots Advocacy to Lawmaking in Washington,” which built on the success of last year’s workshop and focused on equipping affiliates with the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively communicate their organizational needs with federal policymakers. This session focused on four main telecommunications policy topics: safeguarding the Universal Service Fund (USF), reviving the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) through an affordability mechanism, deploying the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program, and funding digital equity and inclusion programs through the Digital Equity Act (DEA).
Workshop facilitators first presented on these key policy topics in a panel where I was joined by experts and advocates Raza Panjwani of New America’s Open Technology Institute, Heather Franklin of FreePress, and Brandon Forester of MediaJustice. Next, Alisa Valentin and Nat Purser, joined by Amanda Beckham of FreePress, led a presentation on federal advocacy. The workshop simulated small-group conversations to provide attendees with an interactive experience speaking to “lawmakers,” played by the workshop facilitators. The attendees were inspired by what we discussed, one even sharing afterward: “… [t]he conversation made me want to dig a bit deeper on what role I can play and who is doing this work.”
The second session, a panel discussion moderated by Alisa Valentin titled “Reshaping Principles of Universal Service: Policies That Put People First,” explored how sustainable funding models such as the Universal Service Fund can prioritize broadband affordability and adoption, and how digital navigators can help drive change on local, state, and federal levels. On the panel were Claudia Ruiz of UnidosUS, digital rights organizer Raelyn Roberson, Greg Guice of Vernonburg Group, and Amy Huffman of NDIA. The energy around this panel was clear, as a long line of attendees emerged to speak with the panel afterwards, demonstrating that this session was successful in inspiring more advocates to speak up about these important issues.
During this three-day conference some common threads emerged:
- The Importance of Stories. Working in federal policy in Washington, DC has its perks. You are close to where the lawmaking happens, you are around interesting policy discussions, and oftentimes you bump into the very people you need to speak with to get stuff done. One thing I sometimes miss, however, is the “outside the Hill” perspective – stories of impact from those doing the groundwork. Net Inclusion helped to fill in this gap. I heard stories from folks all over the country, from the rural South, to the northeastern-most tip of Maine, to urban rust-belt city centers, to Tribal nations, and even to the widest expanses of Alaska. Stories of impact, describing the important work being done to help close the digital divide, expressing the challenges of grassroots digital inclusion efforts, and sharing ways that those in Washington could help. These stories meant something to me, putting a face to the name of what it means to work in broadband policy, and these same stories could mean a lot to our lawmakers. Net Inclusion has energized me to continue my conversation with NDIA’s affiliates so that we use real life stories of impact to fight for digital inclusion, much like what we accomplished in conjunction with NDIA during a recent Hill Day of advocacy.
- Demand Funding Now. The attendees of Net Inclusion are mostly NDIA affiliates and other digital navigators. Many of them, including NDIA itself, have been recommended by the NTIA to receive grants through the Digital Equity Act to help support their work in connecting every American to an affordable internet and closing the digital divide. Now, everything is on pause, as the Trump administration has unilaterally stopped the program – even though it was created through statute under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – calling it “illegal” and “racist.” This action is wrong and unconstitutional. Furthermore, the administration’s actions are likely to cause libraries to shut down, prevent our loved ones from learning how to use their devices, dismantle state broadband initiatives, hurt communities harmed by disasters, and so much more. As I heard again and again throughout the conference, these bold moves by the administration, which seem to be doing everything possible to avoid actually closing the digital divide, are hurting Americans. We need the funding that was approved by bipartisan law now.
- Support Together Paves the Way Forward. As policymaking (at least policies that are actually in the public interest) seems to be getting more difficult as partisan turmoil unfolds, I could feel a palpable tension throughout moments of the conference. People were scared, people were confused, and people were angry. But in the face of this, people were also energized. They were coming up with solutions, thinking of new plans, and strategizing on how to move forward and be there for one another as we navigate these tough times. I could feel the support that we all gave each other, and I believe that is the way that we move forward. Net Inclusion brought us together and provided us the tools and resources necessary, much as digital navigators do in their communities day to day, to help achieve progress in closing the digital divide.
I am hopeful that Net Inclusion 2025 has inspired digital inclusion advocates to work harder to achieve our goal, as I know it has for me. With this enthusiasm and inspiration in hand, I look forward to discussing our progress at the next Net Inclusion in February 2026!