Georgia 1890 land-grant pilots ecosystem for digital equity

Rural communities often lack adequate technology resources, including broadband access and personal computers for home use. Many students often do their work at public access locations, facing barriers such as limited hours, lack of transportation and limited digital skills.

In response, Fort Valley State University in Georgia is reducing these barriers and increasing access for underserved students by using loaner laptops and hotspots, digital skills training and outfitting community hub sites.

The university’s Extension service partnered with AT&T and the Fort Valley Youth Center of Excellence to distribute 100 computers to K-12 students locally, provided broadband access to 80 FVSU students through hotspots and ordered more than 750 laptops for distribution to residents in middle Georgia. One parent of a 13-year-old daughter commented that these efforts greatly benefit low-income parents like herself. She noted her previous computer was damaged and she was wondering how she was going to replace it.

This project addresses the inequities in broadband connectivity, access and digital skills for rural communities in middle Georgia.

Photo courtesy Fort Valley State University Cooperative Extension Program.