Amid the many changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the shift to virtual schooling, remote work, and telemedicine made it clear: equitable access to the Internet is essential. Equity is a cornerstone of the Task Force’s work, recognizing the disturbingly high lack of internet access among certain communities, including for people of color. A recent study by the Alliance for Excellent Education found 1 in 3 Black, Latino, and American Indian/Alaska Native students do not have high-speed home internet access.

Chaired by Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist, North Carolina Senator Jay Chaudhuri and Fulton County (GA) Commissioner Dana Barrett, the group brings together state and local officials with policy experts and partners from the non-profit and private sectors. The Task Force convenes regularly for in-depth conversations on closing the digital divide and to highlight effective efforts in communities across the country. Read an op-ed in StateScoop from former co-chairs San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and Florida Senator Loranne Ausley for details on why this work is so important, and how the group helps. Check out other press hits from the group’s launch for more on how the task force will help drive solutions to close the digital divide highlighted by the pandemic and the shift to remote work and school, including articles from Route Fifty, StateScoop, and Communications Daily.