Welcome to the Fall 2026 Edition Welcome back to the Massachusetts Aging Network Digital Equity Newsletter, a quarterly roundup of resources, events, and news to help organizations expand digital access for older adults across Massachusetts. Digital equity means having the internet access, devices, and digital skills to participate fully in modern life. As a cross-cutting social determinant of health, it shapes access to healthcare and benefits, social connection, and opportunities for learning and independence. We’re glad to have you as part of this work. Have a resource, event, or success story to share? We’d love to feature it in a future issue. Contact: Molly.R.Evans@mass.gov At a Glance Four Ways to Get Involved This Fall Short on time? Start here. These are four ways your organization can take part in digital equity work this fall. Celebrate Digital Inclusion Week | October 4-10 Host an event, attend one near you, or help spread the word about digital inclusion across Massachusetts. Find an Event Near You Share Your Input Due October 27 | 10-15 minutes Tell us what’s working, where the gaps are, and what support would be most useful to your organization. Take the Survey Connect and Learn Join the Technology Learning Collaborative October 27 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM Hear what peers are trying, exchange ideas, and learn alongside others working to get older adults connected. Register for October 27 Build Digital Skills Offer Free Northstar Training Available through September 2027 The Executive Office of Aging & Independence (AGE) is offering no-cost digital literacy training for up to 500 older adults in Massachusetts. Contact Bethany Gordon for more information: Get Started with Northstar Keep scrolling for details, opportunities, and additional resources! AGE Updates Meet Bethany Gordon, AGE’s Digital Inclusion Fellow Please welcome Bethany Gordon, AGE’s Digital Inclusion Fellow for 2026-2027. Bethany brings experience working across education, healthcare technology, and community-centered design, with a focus on making digital tools and services more accessible and easier to use. Over the next year, Bethany will help advance AGE’s Digital Equity Strategy, working with partners across the network to strengthen digital inclusion and help older adults access the devices, connectivity, and skills they need to thrive. Reach her at Bethany.Gordon@mass.gov. Share, Learn, Connect: Digital Equity Survey Remains Open Thank you to everyone who has already submitted a response to our Digital Equity Survey! If you haven’t had a chance yet, we invite you to take part in this brief survey. Whether your organization is deeply engaged in digital equity or just getting started, your perspective will help us understand what’s working, where the gaps are, and how to better connect organizations across the state. Responses will contribute to shared learning across the network, and individual responses will be kept confidential. Please submit only one response per organization. Time Commitment: 10-15 minutes Who should respond: Organizations in MA that work with older adults – Councils on Aging, Area Agencies on Aging, libraries, and more. Note: If you’ve already submitted a response, you do not need to do so again. When: Please submit your survey response by October 27, 2026. If you have questions about the survey, please reach out to Molly Evans at Molly.R.Evans@mass.gov. Complete the Digital Equity Survey Spread the Word Digital Inclusion Week is Oct 4-10 Digital Inclusion Week (DIW) is a national week of awareness and action organized by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA). This year’s theme is “Sustain, Empower, Evolve: Building a Brighter Digital Future” and events will take place October 4-10. Any organization can take part, and it can start small. Ideas include: Hosting a device drop-in or a tech help hour Offering a digital skills class, such as telehealth, scam awareness, or smartphone basics Sharing your digital equity story on social media Attending a local event near you (browse the DIW event map) Register your event with NDIA to be featured on their DIW Map. For additional ideas and support, NDIA’s toolkits cover event planning, social media, press outreach, and email templates. Lifeline Program The Lifeline Program, overseen by the Department of Telecommunications and Cable (DTC) in Massachusetts, is a federal program that provides a monthly discount on one communication service, such as home or wireless phone service, home internet, or a wireless data plan, to qualified individuals. DTC has prepared a video and flyer to share with staff, clients, and community networks to raise awareness of this benefit to help keep older adults connected. Learn more about the Lifeline Program Opportunities Free Digital Skills Training with Northstar Through September 2027, AGE is offering no-cost digital literacy training to up to 500 older adults in Massachusetts through Northstar Digital Literacy. If your organization is interested in participating in this free opportunity, please email Bethany.Gordon@mass.gov to begin administering training. Learn more about Northstar Digital Literacy. Note: since this training is conducted online, participants will need access to a device. NDIA’s 2026 Digital Inclusion Trailblazers The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) is accepting applications for the 2026 Digital Inclusion Trailblazers, recognizing local governments doing strong digital equity work. Applications are open through October 13, 2026. Apply for the 2026 Digital Inclusion Trailblazers recognition. Claude Corps Claude Corps is a 12-month, fully funded fellowship that places early-career talent inside mission-driven nonprofits to help them put artificial intelligence (AI) to practical use to take on operational or programmatic challenges. Anthropic covers fellow salaries and benefits, and each host also receives a one-time $10,000 implementation grant. Who can apply as a host: You must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a Claude for Nonprofits Team or Enterprise customer. You need an in-person or hybrid workplace, a senior sponsor, and a staff member to supervise the fellow. Government and municipal organizations are not currently eligible. Applications are rolling. The next cohorts start in February and August 2027. The host application takes about 30 minutes. Learn more about applying to Claude Corps as a host organization. Open Call for Proposals: Atlassian Foundation The Atlassian Foundation is inviting applications from collective action initiatives that are working to improve education for disadvantaged learners in the AI era. Applicants must be registered nonprofits. Applications close October 30, 2026. Read the Atlassian Foundation call for proposals and apply. News, Research, and Resources Digital Equity Funding News Digital Equity Act Competitive Grant Program May Reopen The $1.25 billion Digital Equity Act (DEA) Competitive Grant Program, which was terminated in May 2025 may be on track to return. In an August 3 court filing, the Department of Commerce said it targets a December 2026 opening date for applications and is preparing a new Notice of Funding Opportunity. Applicants will still have to wait for the formal funding announcement before they can apply. MBI’s Connected & Online Program Adds More Devices The Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) announced the distribution of 5,063 free internet-enabled devices to 45 organizations. The $31.6 million program provides laptops, tablets, and desktops, plus supportive equipment such as braille keyboards, for lending programs and publicly accessible locations. Across both rounds, nearly 32,000 devices and more than 13,000 pieces of supportive equipment have gone to organizations statewide. Learn more: MBI ‘Connected & Online Program’ Distributes More Than 5,000 Free Internet-Enabled Devices to Increase Connectivity Statewide – Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative AARP Report on Broadband Affordability and Digital Skills New AARP research finds that 90% of adults 50 and older have a high-speed home connection, but 64% say their internet bill creates at least some financial strain with 72% worrying about increased costs within the coming year. A companion digital literacy report found that confidence in spotting scams drops from 88% among adults 50-64 to 74% among those 65 and older, and confidence in telehealth falls from 92% to 77%. Together these reports highlight a need for both affordable service and skills support. Learn more: AARP Release Reports on Broadband Affordability and Digital Skills Among Older Adults – Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative Implementation Resources Building or expanding a digital equity program at your organization? These resources from the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) and Connect Humanity can help you build a digital skills curriculum, explore funding options, and more. NDIA: Building a digital skills curriculum? Start here! NDIA: Best Practices for Ensuring Digital Inclusion Program Impact NDIA: Digital Navigator Boundary Basics Handout NDIA: Digital Navigator Program Planning Prework Questions Connect Humanity: Alt Funding Field Guide – Connect Humanity Worth a Read: Digital Inclusion and Health Pillars, Policies, and Plausible Pathways Linking Digital Inclusion and Health Equity This article in Health Affairs makes the case that digital inclusion is a “super” social determinant of health. The authors Amy Sheon and Elaine Khoong argue that digital inclusion affects health equity in two main ways. It has a direct effect by enabling access to health care services and an indirect one through social supports that also influence health. This article calls for a stronger digital equity lens on broadband policy and funding, encouraging health care stakeholders to get involved by sharing data that reveals gaps in digital health use. Read Health Affairs Article Read more about digital inclusion and health: Health Affairs: Digital Inclusion Pathways To Health Equity NPJ Digital Medicine: Digital inclusion as a social determinant of health Upcoming Events Free Digital Inclusion Week Events and Webinars Building for Digital Equity Webinar Series Thursday, October 8 | 3:00 – 4:00 PM | Online livestream Host: ILSR Community Broadband Networks Initiative & NDIA This one-hour webinar explores what it takes to keep digital equity alive and growing as funding models shift. Register for Building for Digital Equity Webinar Day of Equity 2026 Thursday, October 8 | Virtual Host: digitalLIFT digitalLIFT is celebrating its 4th Annual Day of Equity on October 8 with a webinar series featuring leaders and practitioners in the digital equity space. Session topics will include generative AI, sustainable funding, measuring impact, and more. Register for Day of Equity 2026 Technology Learning Collaborative for Healthy Aging Tuesday, October 27 | 10:30 AM – 12 PM | Zoom Host: Executive Office of Aging & Independence (AGE) and the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative (MHAC) Join the quarterly Technology Learning Collaborative for Healthy Aging meeting to learn and share updates on best practices as well as funding and partnership opportunities regarding digital equity and older adults. October’s meeting will feature speakers from Coastline, Mystic Valley Aging Services, and SeniorCare sharing more about their work on the Digital Equity Partnerships Grant Program. Register for the upcoming Tech Learning Collaborative Massachusetts Digital Equity Coalition Monthly Meeting Wednesday, October 21 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Zoom Host: Massachusetts Digital Equity Coalition Are you interested in bolstering digital equity efforts throughout the state? Join the statewide Digital Equity Coalition. The coalition works to cultivate a shared understanding and collective awareness of current activities, resources, and emerging issues at the community, state, and federal level surrounding digital equity. Additionally, the coalition develops collective action plans for collaboration, advocacy, and growing its membership. Questions? Contact Virginia Benzan (Coalition Chair) for more information: virginiabenzan@gmail.com. Join the next MA Digital Equity Coalition Meeting Stay connected with us: Subscribe I f you have a digital equity-related event, resource, or update to share with the network, please email Molly.R.Evans@mass.gov. Executive Office of Aging & Independence | Mass.gov |
Massachusetts Aging Network Digital Equity Newsletter