New report introduces framework and tools to assist local coalitions working to advance digital inclusion, equity, and justice with their communities

NEW YORK - The Digital Equity Research Center (DERC) at the Metropolitan New York Library Council is pleased to announce a new report, titled “Digital Equity Ecosystems Measurement Framework,” that was co-authored by Dr. Colin Rhinesmith, DERC Director and Dr. Rafi Santo, Principal Researcher at Telos Learning.

The report presents findings from a participatory research project with thirty-two digital equity and digital justice coalition leaders from across the United States, who contributed their ideas to inform the Digital Equity Ecosystems Measurement (DEEM) framework. This initiative responds to a broader need within the digital equity field for conceptual frameworks and measurement tools to assist local coalitions in gathering data for planning, improvement, and advocacy purposes.

"The DEEM framework offers practical guidance to local coalitions working to advance digital equity and justice with their communities,” said Nate Hill, Executive Director of METRO and a contributor to the DEEM project. “As the federal government releases billions of dollars of public funding to promote broadband access, availability, and use, this report offers practical insights to further support these large scale efforts.”

Dr. Colin Rhinesmith is the Founder and Director of the Digital Equity Research Center at METRO, a Research Fellow with the Quello Center at Michigan State University, and a Senior Fellow with the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society. Rhinesmith said, "As we explain in the report, a clearly articulated, rigorous, and accessible framework to measure the efforts led by local coalitions can further support initiatives that promote universal broadband, deliver new opportunities, and strengthen digital equity ecosystems. My hope is that the DEEM framework, a joint effort with coalition leaders from across the country, will help to advance digital equity and justice working with their local communities.”

Dr. Rafi Santo, Principal Researcher at Telos Learning and a co-author of the report, played a key role in the development of the measurement framework and evaluative tools found in the report. Santo said, “Community and place-based coalitions are critical to addressing historic disenfranchisement around digital technologies. What we found through our workshops is that local coalitions need tools to help them better assess the health of their coalitions, the strength of their members and the impact of their work in and with their communities.”

The Digital Equity Ecosystems Measurement Framework report is supported with federal American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated to the New York State Library by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services.

The report is available at https://metro.org/digital_equity_ecosystems

For more information please contact: Colin Rhinesmith, Director, Digital Equity Research Center, Metropolitan New York Library Council, crhinesmith@metro.org