Digital equity in affordable housing

Digital equity is critical to support resilience throughout communities, especially historically disenfranchised communities and low-income households. Exacerbated during the pandemic, communities have seen firsthand how access to reliable broadband can enable remote employment activities, access to employment, identification of healthcare resources (e.g., telehealth), and enabling educational opportunities. In Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), the need for digital equity is dire and resources limited.

This paper explores the recent funding available to PHAs through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) and the Digital Equity Act (DEA), as well as considerations to support effective implementation. We cover comprehensive strategies that address affordability, infrastructure, digital literacy, language barriers, and privacy and security concerns, including:

• Using data to assess the feasibility of broadband implementation in a particular area and to drive design
• Strategizing around partnering with internet service providers to increase the speed of broadband deployment and access to underserved areas
• Making your program measurable so it can be manageable