Angela Siefer, Executive Director of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) speaks for our nation on digital opportunities. Her message provided to congress earlier this year:
- Residential internet service in the US is expensive.
- Analytic reporting of the cost of service throughout the nation are not available. We need the FCC to gather this data and make it publicly available.
- In the US digital training is undervalued and underfunded.
- 1/3 of manufacturing workers lack proficient digital skills
- 1/2 of all construction, transportation, and storage workers lack proficient digital skills
- No dedicated funding is available towards digital training in the US
Local governments, libraries, non-profits have been left to piece-together to needed recourses to address the basic digital skills training. Piecing together is the wrong strategy for a strong workforce.
Angela Siefer, Executive Director, National Digital Inclusion Alliance
Digital Stewardship
Our Western North Carolina communities need to continue to provide and grow:
- Guidance to low income parents on how to connect to their children’s teachers.
- Leadership for seniors on how to use electronic communication and telehealth.
- Help Veterans and disadvantaged individuals with digital skills for employment.
- Support the State of North Carolina in developing digital equity.
Digital Equity
Digital equity refers to whether people can access and effectively use the technology necessary to participate in modern society. Digital equity planning is the opportunity for the rural areas of North Carolina as Representative Jake Johnson discusses.
Support the WNC Broadband Project’s goals to advocate, educate, and engage our communities in the needed awareness of these digital opportunities.