Research

The participatory researcher . . . is about being committed to transforming the social relations of knowledge production and to democratic participation in the research process.” – Stoecker (1999)

I am a community-engaged participatory researcher with training in library and information science and critical media studies. As the Founder and Director of the Digital Equity Research Center (DERC) at the Metropolitan New York Library Council, my team and I work with individuals, organizations, and communities to better understand and co-design meaningful responses to local digital equity challenges.

My current research examines the role of community informatics projects in creating and sustaining healthy digital equity ecosystems, which I define as interactions between individuals, populations, communities, and their larger sociotechnical environments that all play a role in shaping the work to advance more equitable access to technology and social, economic, and racial justice. As part of this research, I have been examining conceptualizations of community coalitions found in the public health literature to gain deeper insights into the structures, processes, and outcomes of local coalitions in the digital equity field.

I am currently working on a book, titled Digital Equity Ecosystems that will be published by the University of California Press in 2025.

My research has been published in several top-tier academic journals, including: Information, Communication & Society; Telecommunications Policy; International Journal of Communication; Media, Culture & Society; Government Information Quarterly; Public Library Quarterly; and Mobile Media & Communication. My work has appeared in edited volumes published by The MIT Press and Rowman & Littlefield, and I have written several articles on digital inclusion, digital equity, and broadband adoption published by the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society.

My work has been cited by the U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and Department of Housing and Urban Development. The European Commission, Finnish Government, World Bank, British Academy, and Council of Canadian Academies have also cited my work in their publications. I have presented my research to policymakers in Washington, D.C., including members of the U.S. Congress, FCC, NTIA, and The White House during the Obama Administration.

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

Digital Equity Ecosystems (Book project under contract with the University of California Press). Brief description: The past 25 years of research on digital inequalities has framed the digital divide as a largely private problem, one that individuals should solve on their own by gaining access to networked technology and digital literacy skills. However, the pandemic forced many people, primarily poor people and people of color, outside their home to access free Wi-Fi making the digital divide a much more visible, public issue. In response, grassroots digital equity coalitions emerged in communities across the U.S. Yet few in-depth studies have examined the formation, structure, and function of these coalitions and their implications for digital equity research, practice, and policy.

To address this gap in digital inequalities scholarship, as well as to provide key insights to inform digital equity practice and public policy, the book introduces the concept of digital equity ecosystems as a novel approach to studying, understanding, and addressing social and technological inequality in society. This socioecological approach is deeply rooted in community development and critical theoretical perspectives that center the interactions between individuals, populations, communities, and their larger sociotechnical environments that all play a role in shaping the everyday work to advance digital equity and social, economic, and racial justice.

Through a comprehensive review of theories and concepts across the fields of information, communication, technology, and public health studies, as well as by presenting original case study research of digital equity coalitions in communities across the U.S., the book explains why a digital equity ecosystems approach to digital inequalities is so urgently needed now, particularly during a time of unprecedented national investment in response to the social, technical, and racial inequalities exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The book also underscores the urgency of this approach not only to bridge the digital divide, but also to strengthen civil society and the future of democracy.

PAST RESEARCH PROJECTS

Digital Equity Ecosystem Measurement: Developing a Conceptual Framework and Measurement Tools for Digital Equity Coalitions. To support the growth and development of digital equity ecosystems, communities across the country have been organizing local digital inclusion coalitions. However, the digital inclusion field currently lacks the conceptual frameworks, methodologies, and evaluation tools needed to effectively and holistically measure the outcomes and impacts of this work. As the National Telecommunications and Information Administration releases billions of dollars in federal funding to advance digital equity through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in the next five years, there will be a growing need to understand and measure the impact of this public funding. Furthermore, while there is a growing understanding among philanthropic and other funders about why digital equity matters these same stakeholders lack the evidence needed to show the impact of their investments. A clearly articulated, rigorous, and accessible framework to measure the work of digital inclusion coalitions can further support the development, implementation, and evolution of these efforts to promote universal broadband, deliver new opportunities, and strengthen communities across the country.

The Digital Equity Ecosystems Measurement (DEEM) project aims to support the development, implementation, and evolution of place-based coalitions working to advance digital equity, inclusion, and justice in their communities. The goal is to develop a shared measurement framework and openly accessible tools that can be used by digital inclusion coalitions to improve and advance their work to promote digital equity. The Digital Equity Ecosystem Measurement project is supported with federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds allocated to the New York State Library by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

Growing Healthy Digital Equity Ecosystems During COVID-19 and Beyond. We define Digital Equity Ecosystems as interactions between individuals, populations, communities, and their larger sociotechnical environments that all play a role in shaping the digital inclusion work in local communities to promote more equitable access to technology and social and racial justice. Our research in this area seeks to understand the impact of COVID-19 on individuals and families without household internet access and how digital inclusion coalitions across the nation have responded in turn. The goal of the study is to provide data and evidence to help local, state, and federal policymakers in the U.S. develop more effective digital equity strategies nationwide. Findings from the study will also be useful for key stakeholders working to promote digital equity and racial justice in communities struggling with poverty during COVID-19 and after the pandemic ends. The publication of the first phase of our research was supported by the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society.

Measuring Library Broadband Networks for the National Digital Platform. This research project in partnership with Measurement Lab (M-Lab) at Code for Science & Society and Internet2 examines how advanced broadband measurement capabilities can support the infrastructure and services needed to respond to the digital demands of public library users across the U.S. The project will gather quantitative and qualitative data from public libraries across the country to 1) understand the broadband speeds and quality of service that public libraries receive; 2) assess how well broadband service and infrastructure are supporting their communities’ digital needs; 3) understand broadband network usage and capacity; and 4) increase their knowledge of networked services and connectivity needs. The project deliverables include an open source and replicable broadband measurement platform, training manual to help public librarians use that platform, and a final report on the project. The project was funded by a grant (award #LG-71-18-0110-18) from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services.

At the Edges of the National Digital Platform: Rural Library Hotspot Lending Programs. This research project in partnership with researchers at the University of Texas at Austin and Oklahoma State University will examine how rural libraries address the challenges of Internet connectivity with hotspot lending programs. The project will gather qualitative and quantitative data from 24 rural libraries with hotspot lending program experience, focusing on the librarians involved with the program, the users of the program, local community stakeholders, and non-users. Research outcomes will address the role of rural libraries in local information ecosystems, the impact of hotspot lending programs on users’ quality of life and digital literacy, community outcomes of these programs, and practical requirements for offering hotspot lending programs. Deliverables for the project include a guidelines document on program implementation, a short report on rural Internet connectivity and libraries, and a final research report. The project was funded by a grant (award #RE-31-16-0014-16) from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Multiple Case Study Analysis of U.S. Broadband Adoption Initiatives. The research seeks to fill a gap in the literature on local broadband adoption initiatives that are incorporating low-cost broadband Internet service, public access to computers, and digital literacy training. In order to fully serve their communities, innovative organizations are working with local partners to increase broadband adoption. Broadband adoption has been defined as an individual’s ability to purchase broadband Internet service at home. While there are plenty of studies to show how libraries and other community-based organizations serve community members through public access to computers and digital literacy training, there is less evidence to show how organizations in local communities are working together to support people’s ability to adopt broadband Internet at home, while also providing public computing access and digital literacy training. This study seeks to address this gap by conducting interviews with administrators, staff, and community members involved in local broadband adoption initiatives in order to gain a deeper understanding of what role these programs play in helping community members to adopt high-speed Internet service at home. The research was funded by a grant from the Benton Foundation.

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