SED launches NYS Digital Equity Portal |
On Board Online • December 20, 2021
By Alicia Gene‚ Artessa
Governmental Relations Representative
The State Education Department (SED) has launched a Digital Equity Portal, which it describes as an "interactive, online data mapping tool for communities across the state seeking data on New Yorkers' ability to access the internet to advance digital equity."
The website enables users to look up information about broadband access by neighborhood. It is hosted on Cornell University's website at blogs.cornell.edu/nysdigitalequity/home /.
"As the digital divide continues to hinder certain students, NYSSBA's government relations team has been zealously advocating for more clear and accurate information on broadband access," said Brian Fessler, NYSSBA's director of governmental relations. "The Digital Equity Portal is an interactive, user-friendly resource that school officials can use to pinpoint which students need special attention, based on where they live."
To create the portal, SED worked with Community Tech NY, Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations, the New York State Library and the John R. Oishei Foundation.
Data on broadband service is broken down by census block, the smallest geographic unit used by the U.S. Census. Key figures are Census Bureau estimates for the five-year period from 2015 to 2019, based on the bureau's American Community Survey.
In a parallel effort, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Sept. 27 the launch of a Broadband Mapping Consumer Survey as part of a statewide broadband mapping study. As previously reported, the 2021-22 enacted state budget required the Public Service Commission (PSC) to study the "availability, affordability, and reliability of high-speed internet and broadband services in New York State" with the intent to help expand broadband access.
"Understanding how broadband services vary across the state is a key step to improving access," said NYSSBA Executive Director Robert Schneider. "We applaud SED and Gov. Hochul for their leadership on this issue, which is a priority for NYSSBA member districts."
The federal government has been slow to publish better broadband internet coverage data, prompting many states to take on the daunting task themselves. Other states engaged in broadband mapping include Virginia and Georgia. However, like the new SED portal, many of these state-sanctioned maps rely on federal communications data that experts consider spotty if not shoddy. New York's statewide study by the PSC promises to be perhaps the most rigorous in the nation.
If you are looking to advocate for better access to broadband in your district, please join the governmental relations team on Feb. 9 for Lobby Day at the state Capitol. For details and registration go to nyssba.org/events .