Digital Equity Research Center director Dr. Colin Rhinesmith was an author of two papers at this year’s 52nd Telecommunications Policy Research Conference (TPRC) in Washington, D.C. on Sept 20-21, 2024.
Paper #1: Beyond Access and Infrastructure: Evaluating the Impact of Local Contexts on Digital Equity Strategies through the Lens of the Digital Opportunities Compass describes results from a study in which three Michigan communities explored how local contexts influence digital equity strategies. The paper was presented by Dr. Pierrette Renée Dagg, who led the communities through the creation of tailored digital equity strategies this year utilizing the Digital Opportunities Compass framework and an asset-based community development-informed approach.
Paper #2: Public Libraries, Digital Equity Coalitions, and The Public Good summarizes findings from a survey of public libraries conducted by METRO’s Digital Equity Research Center earlier this year. The survey, which included responses from 28 public libraries across the country, sought to understand the role(s) public libraries play in coalitions working to advance digital equity. See slides from the presentation.
TPRC, which takes place every year, promotes interdisciplinary thinking on current and emerging issues in communications and the Internet by disseminating and discussing new research relevant to policy questions in the U.S. and around the world. The conference draws attendees from academia, industry, government, and nonprofit organizations. View the program.
