Rosa M., 68 — learning FaceTime for the first time
Fresno, CA 93706
Marcus T. — submitting his first college application
Detroit, MI 48213
Harlan County Public Library — 1 computer per 12 students
Harlan, KY 40831
Eastside Community Center — after-school homework help
Cleveland, OH 44103
Amara, 9 — the moment everything changed
Jackson, MS 39201
DeShawn, 16 — homework in the parking lot, 10pm
Birmingham, AL 35203#ConnectEveryChild
16.9 million children do their homework on cracked phone screens in McDonald's parking lots for the free Wi-Fi. We're fixing that — one kitchen table at a time.
— The Bridge Mandate, February 2026
The numbers they don't put in the brochure.
These aren't abstract statistics. Each number is a child who fell asleep before finishing their assignment, a teen who didn't submit, a family who drove to a parking lot at 11pm.
Americans lack broadband access
of teachers assign homework requiring broadband
of school-aged children have no broadband device at home
of teens can't complete homework — no computer, no internet
more likely to lack broadband if you live rural vs. urban
of low-income households can't afford internet
digital skills gap between students with and without home access
of Tribal land residents lack terrestrial broadband
left in the Affordable Connectivity Program — Congress let it expire
"The internet is an essential utility. It isn't just a luxury and hasn't been for a long time. It's a practical necessity to maintain the standard of education, living, and working that we've grown accustomed to."— Digital Equity Coalition Report, 2025
Pinned from the field.
Real people. Real zip codes. Hover each card to read their story.
I used to do math homework on my mom's phone. Now I have a real keyboard.
Destiny R.
Age 11, 5th Grade
I report ten students per working computer to the district every semester. Nothing changes. Until Bridge.
Ms. Patricia Okafor
School Librarian, 14 years
We have 40 kids and 3 laptops. The waitlist for computer time is two weeks long.
Jerome Washington
Community Center Director
of teens are often unable to complete homework — no device, no signal
— Pew Research 2025
I submitted my college application from a McDonald's parking lot at 11pm. Got in.
Marcus T.
Age 17, applying to college
I've been fighting the county board for two years. Bridge gave us the data and the community voice we needed.
Councilmember Diane Flores
Municipal Broadband Advocate
She asked why the whole world was inside the screen.
Amara K.
Age 9, 3rd Grade
Watch the full testimony from the board meeting that changed everything.
Harlan County Town Hall
February 2026 · 340 attendees
You're not starting something.
You're joining something.
Proof of momentum, from county boards to the Senate floor.
Harlan County Board approves $2.1M broadband expansion
Emergency Connectivity Fund renewed — $7.17B for schools & libraries
1,200 laptops distributed across 14 counties in the Mississippi Delta
Bridge testifies before Senate Commerce Committee on homework gap
Impact so far
Recent events
Detroit Digital Equity Summit
Librarians for Connectivity Roundtable
Appalachian Broadband Town Hall
Coalition partners
Reserve Your Seat
at the Table.
This isn't a webinar. It's a working session where librarians, community directors, advocates, and officials sit down together and move something. Your zip code determines your nearest event location.
Local event assigned by zip code
50+ cities, one near you
Real coalition building
Leave with names, numbers, and next steps
District-level data for your area
Bring it to your school board
Laptop drive at every event
Bring a gently used device or donate $40
"I came alone and left with three school board members and a plan. This is what organizing looks like."
Tamara J.
Librarian · Cleveland, OH 44103
Can't attend? Host a watch party.
Stream the event at your library, school, or living room. We'll send you a kit.
March 15 · 50+ cities · One seat left in your area
Join educators, librarians & officials at the table