Increased Broadband Access Should Include Increased Digital Literacy Education, the New Jersey State Policy Lab Finds
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) – Increasing broadband infrastructure and access should also include investing in educational digital literacy programs for residents, according to recommendations from a recent report from the New Jersey State Policy Lab.
By examining data from a 2022 survey of New Jersey residents conducted by the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling and the “U.S. Broadband Usage Percentages Dataset” provided by Microsoft, researchers explored the effects broadband availability played on residents’ perceived digital skills. Prior research has identified efforts to expand broadband access as a necessary first step in closing the digital skills divide amongst individuals.
“A key implication of our findings highlights the importance digital literacy training programs play in complementing investments in digital infrastructure such as establishing and increasing broadband access in communities,” explained Gregory Porumbescu, lead researcher on the report and associate professor at the Rutgers University School of Public Affairs and Administration.
To date, research into the efficacy of digital literacy training programs and how they can be used to complement efforts to expand broadband access within communities remains limited. This new report underscores the need for further research in such areas, and raises a critical concern regarding policies focused solely on increasing broadband access in communities. The researchers recommend that future public policies addressing digital infrastructure and access should be combined with policies to tackle underlying educational disparities and implement digital literacy programs for residents.
Read the full report here: https://policylab.rutgers.edu/
About the New Jersey State Policy Lab: The NJSPL assists the state of New Jersey and its many communities in the design, implementation, and evaluation of state policies and programs by conducting rigorous evidence-based research that considers equity, efficiency, and efficacy of public policies and programs in holistic and innovative ways. The Policy Lab is run as a partnership between the Edward J. Bloustein School of Public Policy in Rutgers-New Brunswick and the School of Public Affairs and Administration in Rutgers-Newark. The Policy Lab is funded by the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE). The contents of this report do not necessarily represent the policy or endorsement of OSHE or the state of New Jersey.
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