There’s an old adage popular in the outdoors world: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.”
Previously in my career, I led a climate research and science education institution with a fully-staffed weather station atop New England’s tallest peak. Famously, the summit of New Hampshire’s Mount Washington is home to some of the most extreme conditions on the planet.
As the mountaintop crew would prepare to venture outside each hour, they had to deeply consider the weather conditions. At a place where temperatures have hit the minus-40s F, winds have topped 230 miles per hour, and clouds freeze onto structures creating a phenomenon known as “rime ice,” choosing the right gear could mean life or death. Safety first, take care of each other, no exposed flesh.
Approaching my sixth year as Executive Director of Digitunity, a national nonprofit organization working to advance digital equity, we’re encountering a different type of extreme conditions.
What is digital equity? Digital equity is the condition we and thousands of other organizations aspire to achieve, where everyone has a computer, connected to affordable internet, and the skills required to use it productively. Digital equity means everyone can participate fully in the modern economy and benefit from the vast opportunities provided by the internet.
Digital equity is, in itself, non-controversial. Who wouldn’t want seniors to feel less isolated, kids to have access to schoolwork from home, or families to enjoy more economic mobility? Who wouldn’t want the roughly 14% of the U.S. population who do not own a computer to thrive in our digital society?
A storm has arrived on our doorstep, and all of us in this space need to choose the right gear.
To be clear, the mission and the work does not change, nor do our values or core beliefs. To navigate these extreme conditions, however, we need to adapt accordingly. We need to choose our language carefully, focusing more on the societal benefits of computer ownership and digital equity. Our country can only benefit from a more skilled and resilient workforce, better health outcomes, a more engaged citizenry, higher performing students, and lower unemployment. Plain language, clearly conveyed.
We also need to consider the funding environment. While the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act made $65 billion available for a massive expansion of broadband infrastructure and adoption, it is now unclear whether federal funding for “Internet for All” programs will actually reach states, tribes, and territories, or the national landscape of nonprofits who have prepared for multiple years to conduct this important work. We need to be prepared to pivot. Philanthropy may need to carry the funding burden for the next few years.
As the storm rages, the Digitunity team remains optimistic and focused. Bad weather shouldn’t force any of us to claw our way back inside. It’s a critical moment where we must study the environment, choose the right gear, and head out into the fray.
This article was originally published on LinkedIn.
