This week in “What’s New in Digital Equity” — our weekly look at government digital equity and broadband news — we have a number of interesting items, which you can jump to with the links below:

N.M. HISTORIC SITES GET WI-FI

New Mexico is expanding access to free public Wi-Fi, which will soon be available at 12 of the state’s historic sites and museums. A $460,000 grant from the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE)’s Community Connect Grant Program is funding the effort.

With the grant, the Department of Cultural Affairs plans to establish 213 new access points by June 30, 2027. Sites including the National Hispanic Cultural Center, Los Luceros Historic Site and the Jemez Historic Site will be receiving this service.

“This Wi-Fi grant program aligns perfectly with our mission to preserve and interpret the cultural resources of New Mexico,” Anne McCudden, executive director of NM Historic Sites, said in a statement.


This is the seventh grant awarded through this program. Previous recipients include the cities of Las Cruces and Raton, Luna and Dona Ana counties, and Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell.

The program leverages funding from the $70 million Connect New Mexico Fund, which the state Legislature established in 2021.

This work supports the state’s three-year broadband plan, which OBAE released in January. It outlines four key goals: universal availability, widespread adoption, next-generation advancement and program stewardship.

The state’s digital equity work goes beyond the infrastructure deployment headed by OBAE, to include digital inclusion programming led by the digital equity program manager at the New Mexico State Library.

In related news, the New Mexico Department of Information Technology’s technicians supported the Chimayó pilgrimage, an event which draws tens of thousands of people each year. A coordinated public response using dispatch software and connectivity supported real-time communication in an effort to reduce dead zones. This setup and the technology powering it enables interoperability among local, state and federal agencies to enhance public safety.

MASSACHUSETTS DISTRIBUTES 27,000 DEVICES

Massachusetts officials will distribute nearly 27,000 Internet-enabled devices through the Connected and Online Program. Device access is a significant factor in existing digital inequities.

Thousands of devices will be distributed to organizations in the state including libraries, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, and elder and youth aid organizations. More than 20,000 pieces of supporting equipment including assistive technology and monitors will be made available to more than 200 organizations. The devices will be used in public spaces and included in lending programs.

This $28.5 million program is funded through the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund. It builds on the state’s broader digital inclusion work, which includes the Gap Networks Grant Program and the Residential Retrofit Program.

ATLANTA’S REGIONAL DIGITAL SKILLS INITIATIVE

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) — the official planning agency for the region — is partnering with the Technical College System of Georgia Foundation to launch the Pathways to the Digital Economy (PADE) initiative. A $200,000 contribution from Google is funding this work.

“By connecting young people to high-quality training and real-world experience, we are building a workforce that is both resilient and prepared for what’s next,” ARC Executive Director and CEO Anna Roach said in a statement.

PADE will be led by WorkSource Atlanta Regional’s NextGen Program, which is managed by ARC. It is intended to help young adults aged 18 to 24 gain digital skills and explore technology careers. PADE will offer participants IT and digital certifications, paid internships, and support services.

NASHVILLE’S LANGUAGE ACCESS SURVEY

In other local news, the consolidated Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County government is advancing its work to assess and improve the language services it provides; the work includes policy assessment, identification of barriers and strengthening digital inclusion.

Thus far, the government has engaged with stakeholders and collected data from departmental self-assessments and a policy review. The next phases include a community needs survey, sharing findings and making recommendations. The survey has been translated into nine languages besides English, to expand its reach.

The purpose of the endeavor is to make access to Metro services more equitable for residents regardless of the languages they speak.

The state of Pennsylvania and multiple California cities have taken action to expand access to services for people who speak languages other than English. Technology tools including AI support government efforts to accelerate language services so they can effectively serve all residents.

 

REPORT: STATE BROADBAND SPEEDS

A new report using Ookla Speedtest Intelligence data identifies the states delivering the minimum standard for fixed broadband speeds, as established by the FCC, to the highest percentage of Speedtest users.

visualization

The data was collected between July and December 2025. It notes that fiber deployments in late 2025 and satellite expansion have shifted the landscape. The number of states delivering service at these speeds to at least 60 percent of Speedtest users increased from 38 states and the District of Columbia in the first half of 2025 to 45 states and the District of Columbia in the second half.

 

AI WORKSHOPS FOR SAN JOSE RESIDENTS

The city of San Jose offered its first free AI workshops with partners this week at the AI Center for Civic and Social Good. The workshops focused on everyday AI use for seniors, and job search applications for individuals entering the workforce.

The events were part of the city’s AI for All initiative, which is a public-private partnership between the city, Anthropic, Google and OpenAI.

Earlier this week, the San Jose City Council voted to make the city-led GovAI Coalition a nonprofit organization.

Cities are increasingly taking a leadership role in AI education, which today represents an integral part of digital inclusion work.



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