Black Churches 4 Digital Equity and Microsoft Collaborate to Support Black Churches as a Catalyst for Local Digital Equity Ecosystems

Black Churches 4 Digital Equity volunteers during the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Day of Action @ Ballou Senior High School in Washington DC

By Ryan Palmer

Microsoft Airband Initiative, US Director

February 16, 2024

This article is co-authored by Ananda Leeke, Chief Social Media Officer, Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC).

Late Congressman John Lewis called internet access the “the civil rights issue of the 21st century.” Congressman Lewis’ words of wisdom remain true today anelp to fuel the work of the Black Churches 4 Digital Equity (BC4DE) Coalition. Achieving digital equity begins with having a broadband internet connection. But it also requires internet connected devices like laptops, tablets and phones along with the digital skills people need to take full advantage of opportunities online. “Every member of our community should share in these opportunities,” says MMTC Vice President Dr. Fallon Wilson.

In collaboration with Microsoft, BC4DE members are driving impact in communities around the country, including via the BC4DE Coalition, which is now represented by 50 Black church and technology nonprofit organizations in 13 states and the District of Columbia, including Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Dr. Wilson and her team estimate that collectively the 50 Black church and tech leaders reach at least 1,000,000 people weekly, through their churches, networks, and work.

To maximize the impact of the BC4DE Coalition’s impressive reach, members have been working to increase awareness and enrolment in the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which supports affordable broadband access and devices for eligible households. This includes driving enrollment in ACP during the Affordable Connectivity Program Day of Action, with events across 15 cities in 13 states reaching 6,950 people in-person, and an estimated 100,000 by email, with ACP resources from our churches and nonprofit organizations.

BC4DE Fellow Bishop Charles Ellis from the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, found the Affordable Connectivity Program Day of Action especially valuable for his community, saying “as a community, we recognize the power of connectivity and its potential to transform lives. By coming together for the Day of Action, we are taking a significant step towards bridging the digital divide in Detroit. Access to affordable internet service is not just a convenience; it is a fundamental necessity in today's digital age. I'm proud to stand alongside Black Churches 4 Digital Equity and our community as we work towards creating a future where every individual has the opportunity to thrive and succeed in the digital world."

Additional highlights of the BC4DE Coalition’s work include:

· Twenty-five Black church and tech leaders participated in the BC4DE Day on the Hill and shared digital equity stories with Congress, the FCC, U.S. Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and the White House.

· Dr. Wilson and several BC4DE Fellows were able to share their thought leadership and advocate for policies that support affordable broadband at The Brookings Institution, National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) 2023 Anchor Net Conference, National Action Networks Black Church Policy Briefing, the United Nations SDG Digital Summit, Pennsylvania State University and the Rockefeller Foundation's BEAD Broadband Navigator's event, and the Metropolitan New York Library Council’s Digital Equity Research Center’s virtual event. The U.S. Department of Education, Religious News Service, The Michigan Chronicle, and other publications featured BC4DE's digital equity work. Go here to learn more.

· In 2024, the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences selected the BC4DE Coalition's ACP National Day of Action as a winner in the 3rd Annual Anthem Awards. BC4DE Coalition received the Bronze Anthem Winner in Community Outreach and the Anthem Community Voice award. Watch MMTC Vice President Dr. Fallon Wilson's Call to Action Anthem speech here.

Moving forward, our work will continue to support the outstanding work of the BC4DE Coalition, as they focus on digital equity education, community partnerships, and visibility that expands the capacity to serve as a catalyst for local digital equity ecosystems and advocating additional ACP funding.

Without decisive action by Congress, over 23 million families will lose access to the ACP benefit no later than April.  We must all work together to support these families by advocating for the ACP Extension Act or similar legislation that would extend this vital program. To lend your support, visit www.dontdisconnectus.org to easily contact your elected officials and advocate on behalf of the ACP Extension Act. Together, we can make a difference.

Note: BC4DE Coalition is organized by the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC), a leading public interest tech organization that has fought for equal access and representation in tech, media, and telecommunications since its founding in 1986

This article was originally published on LinkedIn