Bank Hosts Digital Equity Workshop

The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond hosted a workshop recently to help states understand how they can help their underserved communities gain better access to broadband.

Digital equity leaders from eight states – Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Washington, D.C. – attended the session at the Bank’s Charlotte branch and traded ideas and information about accessing $1.44 billion in federal Digital Equity Capacity grants.

“This first- of-its-kind federal program will provide states and U.S. territories with up to five years of funding for digital inclusion programs, including affordable internet service, computers and digital skills training,” said Peter Dolkart, Richmond Fed Community Development manager for Maryland, West Virginia and the Washington, D.C., metro area and host of the two-day workshop.

“The work of the Federal Reserve System is to support a strong economy. The economy works best when it works for all members of society, including lower income and marginalized citizens.”

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) and the Atlanta Fed co-hosted the event, which also served as the first gathering of a Federal Reserve System State Digital Equity Preparedness Initiative. Six additional workshops will be hosted by other banks in the Federal Reserve system this fall.