The Federal Communications Commission’s Task Force to Prevent Digital Discrimination held a public listening session at Medger Evers College in Brooklyn yesterday. As part of the event, the FCC invited several speakers from a diverse group of organizations representing communities impacted by digital discrimination to provide their comments that could be included in the public…
Author: Colin Rhinesmith
New Book Contract with UC Press!
I am incredibly honored and excited to announce that I have just signed a contract for my new book to be published by the University of California Press! The title of the book is Digital Equity Ecosystems and will be published as part of the UC Press Technology Studies list. The book builds on the…
Digital Inclusion Research Forum on Oct. 12-13
The Federal Reserve Banks of Atlanta, Dallas, Kansas City and Philadelphia seek proposals for presentation at the Digital Inclusion Research Forum, to be held in Dallas, Texas, Oct. 12-13. The proposal deadline is July 21. I am honored to serve on the advisory committee for the research forum. Feel free to share this call for…
New Working Paper: The Digital Opportunities Compass
As states across the U.S. develop their digital equity plans this year, as part of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s BEAD and DEA grant programs, a comprehensive and holistic framework is needed to evaluate the outcomes and impacts of these federal investments to advance digital equity in the years to come. In response, my…
Missing Pieces: How the FCC’s Broadband Map Misrepresents Public Libraries
Back in December, I responded to an open invitation from John Windhausen, Executive Director of the Schools, Health, & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition, during the monthly SHLB Coalition member policy call, to take a closer look at how the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Broadband Map represents community anchor institutions (CAIs). I thought this would be a…
The DERC is Hiring a Program Manager!
The Digital Equity Research Center (DERC) at the Metropolitan New York Library Council (METRO) seeks a strategic thinker, team builder, and thoughtful planner to help build the DERC as a new department at METRO, together with METRO staff and our advisory board. The Program Manager will be responsible for overseeing all of the program management activities and…
Digital Equity Ecosystems Measurement Framework
The Digital Equity Research Center at the Metropolitan New York Library Council published a new report today, titled “Digital Equity Ecosystems Measurement Framework” which I co-authored with my wonderful colleague Dr. Rafi Santo, Principal Researcher at Telos Learning. As our press release explains, The report presents findings from a participatory research project with thirty-two digital…
Community Informatics Research Network (CIRN) Nodes
During the closing session, titled “Drawing it all together; conference statements; 2023” at this year’s 20th Annual CIRN conference, attendees discussed their ideas about how we might continue the energy from the annual conference and stay more connected to and engaged with one another throughout the year. Larry Stillman from Monash University also asked if…
Joining The Quello Center at Michigan State University
I’m thrilled to announce that I am joining The Quello Center at Michigan State University as a Research Fellow. I have been a huge fan of The Quello Center’s work for many years, and I’ve also had the opportunity to work closely with several members of The Quello Center community. I look forward to supporting…
New Article in Information Technology and Libraries
My colleagues, Chris Ritzo, Jie Jiang, and I have a new article, titled “Measuring Library Broadband Networks to Address Knowledge Gaps and Data Caps” that was just published in the journal, Information Technology and Libraries. The journal is part of the American Library Association’s Core: Leadership, Infrastructures, Futures division. Here is the abstract for the paper…