EASTON, Pa. — Bridging the gap between those in Northampton County with and without access to the digital world is taking a giant step forward.
County Executive Lamont G. McClure has announced that the Northampton County Department of Community & Economic Developmentis ready to distribute updated county-owned computers and cell phones to organizations in need throughout the county.
"Our objective is to achieve digital equity and ensure that every county resident has adequate access to the internet."Northampton County Executive Lamont G. McClure
"We are refurbishing county-owned devices in order to donate to public-facing organizations in Northampton County, including healthcare systems, schools, municipalities and nonprofits," McClure said in a news release.
"Our objective is to achieve digital equity and ensure that every county resident has adequate access to the internet."
Organizations interested in getting a refurbished device can call the Northampton County Department of Community & Economic Development at 610-829-6306.
In late April, the department announced it was creating the free Access Device and Giveaway Program.
“Our goal is a path to digital equity and ensuring every county resident has sufficient access to the internet,” McClure said in a statement in April.
The digital divide
The digital divide is the gap between those who have access to technology, the internet and digital literacy training, and those who do not.
It's a problem that crosses generational, urban and rural boundaries, as well as sector and industrial ones.
The county in April partnered with the National Digital Inclusion Alliance for a two-day Digital Navigator training provided at Northampton Community College.
Digital navigators are trusted guides who assist community members with ongoing, individualized support in accessing affordable and appropriate connectivity, devices and digital skills, including:
- How to find appropriate, local, free or low-cost devices
- Self-guided digital skill-building resources and how to use them to teach solo and small groups
- How to collect data and manage clients
- How to identify internet options for low-income community members.
NDIA members can join “community calls” at 1 p.m. on the third Friday of every month to share national resources and on-the-ground strategies for providing digital inclusion services.
