Strategizing Digital Solutions in the South: The Broadband and Democracy Roadshow

In Spring and Fall of 2024, CIRCLE, in partnership with the Media Democracy Fund, launched the Broadband and Democracy Civic Leaders Roadshow, an initiative aimed at addressing digital equity and broadband access across the South. With in-person convenings in Jackson, Mississippi; Cuthbert, Georgia; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Charleston, South Carolina, the roadshow provided local civic leaders with data-driven insights and actionable strategies to enhance broadband advocacy that support civic participation among young adults ages 18-29.

Connecting Broadband Access to Civic Engagement

Broadband access has become essential for participation in public life, and its absence has far-reaching implications—particularly in Southern communities. Without reliable broadband, residents face barriers to accessing information, participating in virtual public meetings, organizing community efforts, applying for jobs, completing government forms, and staying informed about policies that affect their lives. The Broadband and Democracy Civic Leaders Roadshow focused on equipping state and local leaders in the South with tools to bridge the digital divide and enhance civic engagement through broadband accessibility. Each stop in the roadshow was planned in collaboration with anchor organizations deeply embedded in each state, including the Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy, Arkansas Impact Philanthropy, Empower Southwest Georgia, and Stellar Communications. The convenings were attended by more than 60 civic leaders, including state broadband office representatives, mayors, city council members, library directors, media representatives, and nonprofit leaders, who engaged in discussions on the intersection of broadband equity and civic life.

Key Takeaways

The convening workshops featured CIRCLE’s latest research findings and our data tool on broadband, demographics, and civic access in Southern states. These data and insights sparked discussions about broadband’s role in young adults’ civic engagement. A participant from Charleston, SC, noted:

"I never realized how deeply broadband access impacts young people's ability to engage civically. This workshop really helped connect the dots for me."

Before attending the workshop, most participants had not had many discussions on broadband's role in civic participation. For instance, 31% of participants had engaged in prior conversations on the subject to some extent. However, 33% had spoken about it minimally or not at all. The roadshow significantly broadened perspectives by offering data-backed insights on how broadband accessibility and civic media infrastructure in communities can impact young adults’ voter turnout.

When asked what they found particularly beneficial from the activities at the convening, attendees highlighted that the networking and collaboration sessions, research and data insights, youth civic engagement strategies, and strategic support planning for underserved communities in their state were the most valuable aspects of the event. Many attendees appreciated the opportunity to connect with organizations and state-level leaders, which they felt helped to strengthen local partnerships for broadband advocacy and expand their coalitions for civic engagement. Others found CIRCLE’s broadband mapping tool particularly helpful for understanding broadband barriers in both rural and urban areas in their state. A community leader from Little Rock, AR, remarked:

"I appreciated the focus on real-world data, and having concrete statistics to support advocacy work is critical when talking to policymakers."

Next Steps for Civic Leaders

Following the roadshow, participants were encouraged to apply what they learned in their communities. Many expressed a commitment to expanding community partnerships, enhancing broadband accessibility and equity, engaging youth in civic life, and utilizing data for policy and funding. Some attendees planned to strengthen connections between civic media assets presented during the convening, such as schools, libraries, and nonprofits; while others aimed to advocate for broadband expansion in underrepresented communities by using state broadband office resources.

Youth engagement emerged as a key priority, with several leaders committed to supporting youth-led broadband awareness initiatives and providing digital literacy training for young adults. Several attendees intended to incorporate broadband research into grant applications and share data with policymakers to push for digital equity funding. Advocacy efforts were also emphasized, with many leaders planning to organize follow-up discussions on broadband equity and strengthen state-level policy engagement. As two participants reflected:

"This convening made me rethink our approach to digital literacy. We need to do more to equip young people with the tools they need to engage in their communities."

"Workshops like this help us move beyond just discussing the digital divide. We need more spaces to strategize and implement real solutions."

Needs and Recommendations

To sustain momentum from the Roadshow, the following actionable recommendations emerged from the priorities and feedback shared by attendees:

1. Create peer-led digital literacy initiatives to increase community knowledge and skills through youth-led and peer-based learning models.
2. Host listening sessions with young people to elevate youth voices and incorporate their insights into broadband equity and civic engagement strategies.
3. Conduct county-specific research and data collection to capture localized information on broadband access and digital inclusion needs.
4. Support research examining broadband disparities by income within the region to better understand inequities and inform policy and funding priorities.
5. Fund studies exploring the impact of social media on youth voter engagement to inform digital civic education.
6. Develop and distribute advocacy toolkits for community broadband outreach to provide local leaders and organizations with practical resources for engagement efforts.
7. Facilitate connections with digital equity networks to bridge partnerships and align regional strategies.
8. Host follow-up convenings with broader representation to expand stakeholder engagement and co-create community-driven broadband solutions.

These recommendations reflect the actionable opportunities identified by civic leaders and stakeholders during the Roadshow to advance broadband equity and civic participation across the South.

Conclusion

The Broadband and Democracy Civic Leaders Roadshow successfully connected civic leaders, data, and advocacy tools to drive broadband expansion and civic engagement efforts across the South. By providing state-specific research, facilitating state collaborations, and equipping participants with actionable strategies, the initiative laid the groundwork for long-term broadband equity solutions. As one participant summarized, "This is just the beginning—now it's time to turn these insights into action." Moving forward, CIRCLE will continue to support state and local leaders in their broadband advocacy efforts by launching an online toolkit in May 2025. The toolkit will consist of interviews from convening participants in different states and downloadable resources. Through this work, CIRCLE continues to support building a more connected and civically engaged future for young adults.