The Digital Equity Bill of Rights is a set of 10 principles to guide policymakers in crafting cost-effective and sustainable solutions to help the millions of Americans who are falling farther behind for lack of Internet access—victims of a “digital cliff” exacerbated by the pandemic.
CETF and the sponsors of the Digital Equity Bill of Rights declare that digital access is a 21st Century Civil Right and must be a cornerstone of national, state and regional legislation and regulations to advance economic justice and prosperity for all. Learn about the Digital Equity Bill of Rights at www.internetforallnow.org.
To insure Digital Equity for all Californians, residents have the right to:
- Broadband that is Sufficient and Reliable: Speeds must be sufficient to meet the growing demand and reliance for access to education, government, public safety, economic prosperity and healthcare via high-speed access to the Internet. The determination of threshold speeds for high-speed Internet infrastructure should by performance-based to support distance learning, telehealth, and remote working by a majority of households online simultaneously with an increasing need for symmetrical network speeds.
- Broadband that is Ubiquitous: Sufficient and reliable broadband access must be available everywhere in the state, from the most rural areas, including tribal lands, to the most populated urban areas, including all low-income neighborhoods. Public broadband investments should be prioritized to connect entire communities and address digital redlining in historically unserved and underserved communities.
- Broadband that is Affordable: Internet service plans must be affordable for all Californians, regardless of geographic location or household income.
- Broadband that Provides Educational Opportunities and Supports Digital Skills Proficiency: Residents must have access to opportunities to develop needed skills to thrive in a digital world.
- Broadband that Ensures Public Safety and Maintains Peace of Mind: Residents need the peace of mind that comes with knowing they have reliable access to emergency response services and emergency alert systems in the event of emergencies or catastrophic disasters.
- Broadband that Improves Quality of Life: Digital Equity advances economic status with access to educational opportunities, new job opportunities and health care to improve the overall quality of life.
- Broadband that Supports Economic Prosperity: All workers and employers, businesses and entrepreneurs, start-ups and enterprises, small and large, including agriculture, need high-speed Internet access to optimize the value of their contribution to the economy to ensure global competitiveness.
- Broadband that Attracts Capital Investment: Ubiquitous high-speed Internet infrastructure is essential to ensure that California continues to attract its fair share of global capital investment to support and enhance economic prosperity.
- Broadband that Supports Innovation and Research: High-speed fiber connects all research institutions to sustain world-class research and innovation to drive economic productivity.
- Broadband that Empowers and Enables Participation in the Democracy: All residents are connected to the Internet with sufficient speeds to support participation in government, distance learning, and telehealth for quality of life and public safety.
Adopted by the CETF Board of Directors
November 4, 2020
To Advance the Quest for Digital Equity and Foster Consensus Among Digital Champions
What’s New in Digital Equity: California Enacts Digital Equity Bill of Rights
October 12, 2023
Source: Government Technology
Digital Equity Bill Of Rights Signed By Governor Newsom
California Leads the Nation As A Champion for Digitally-Disadvantaged
October 10, 2023
Source: California Emerging Technology Fund
Governor Signs Digital Equity Bill of Rights Into Law
October 9, 2023
Source: California Emerging Technology Fund
Urge Governor to Sign AB414 Today ✅ Take Action for Digital Inclusion Week
October 3, 2023
Source: California Emerging Technology Fund
