From banking, healthcare, and insurance to job searching and remote work, digital infrastructure underlies many crucial parts of the modern world.

However, many people and communities cannot fully participate because they lack access to digital resources—broadband internet, modern computers, digital skills, an understanding of online privacy, and others. According to the Pew Research Center, 24 percent of adults making less than $30,000 per year don’t own a smartphone and 43 percent don’t have home broadband services.

Digital inclusion is a complex issue involving multiple aspects, including the following:

• Personal computing devices: The availability of technology is a key part of digital equity. Without convenient access to computers, individuals already face greater challenges than those who own personal computers. However, simply owning a device is not enough to ensure digital equity.
• Reliable internet access at broadband speeds: Access to the internet is a basic human right according to the United Nations. Digital equity requires internet access to be reliable and fast enough to enable people to perform common tasks. In addition to speed, internet access must also be available on a personal device and a secure network.
• Affordability: Technology and its different components—devices, software, and internet access—must be affordable to every person to ensure digital equity.
• Online privacy: Privacy and security are also key components of digital equity. Full participation in a person’s economy and government involves being able to research, discuss, and vote freely using digital infrastructure.
• Learning and digital proficiency: Equal access to digital infrastructure does not create digital equity if those with access aren’t proficient in using it. Digital equity requires digital literacy, which enables people to use technology effectively.
• Teacher proficiency and technology-driven learning: In an educational setting, it is also important that teachers are qualified to create lesson plans that involve technology and teach students how to use it in creative and innovative ways. Building out infrastructure also involves training educators on how to use it.