Digital Equity: Improving Access and Education to Broadband Resources
Opportunity Statement
MHM's Commitment to Digital Equity
MHM is working to foster digital inclusion and build a robust digital ecosystem through grantmaking, capacity building, strategic partnerships, and advocacy. By investing more than $21 million over three years in thirty-three organizations, MHM aims to advance digital equity and strengthen communities across Texas. This funding will enhance the capacity of community-based organizations and community anchor institutions throughout the region to provide critical digital resources. MHM is committed to ensuring that all people in its 74-county service region have access to reliable, affordable broadband services and the skills and opportunities to use this technology safely and effectively to support their economic, health, and social needs.
Key Stats:
According to the Texas Broadband Development Office's Texas Broadband Plan:- 2.8 million Texas households do not have access to high-speed broadband.
- 5.6 million households do not have quality internet.
- 3.8 million Texas residents face digital literacy challenges.
- Many households pay over $100/month for high-speed internet service, a price may be out of reach for households without home internet.
Program Highlights:
- Funding and Capacity Building
- Released Request for Proposal (RFP).
- Awarded more than $21 million over three years to over thirty organizations.
- Initiated cohort to support 33 grantees to do peer to peer learning- align efforts, strengthen partnerships, and lay the groundwork for state and federal funding opportunities.
- Strengthening the Ecosystem
- Interviewed over 100 local, state and national key stakeholders to develop digital equity strategy
- Established and convened an Internal Digital Equity Taskforce.
- Joined the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas’ Advancing Digital Inclusion Advisory Committee
- Supported the Maverick County Broadband Feasibility Study.
- Participate in the Digital Inclusion Alliance of San Antonio (DIASA), San Antonio Digital Connects (SADC) and Rio Grande Valley Broadband Coalition.
- Championing Change
- Submitted comments to National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Digital Equity Act (DEA) & Texas Broadband Development Office's Texas Digital Opportunity Plan.
- Endorsed the Affordable Connectivity Extension Act of 2024, a bi-partisan standalone bill to continue funding the Affordable Connectivity Program.
- Was highlighted in Texas Broadband Office’s Texas Digital Opportunity Plan.
Cesar E. Chavez Foundational Scholarship Winners
San Antonio, TX (March 31, 2024) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM) is providing a new Dell laptop to 20 scholarship recipients selected by the César E. Chavez Legacy & Educational Foundation (CCLEF). The announcement was made at the annual César E. Chávez Day Águila Awards Gala, held Saturday, March 24 at Brooks Hanger 9. The César E. Chávez Day Águila Awards Gala concludes the César Chavez Day Celebration which began earlier that day with the 28th Annual Cesar E. Chavez March for Justice.
Click here to read more about this work.
Digital Equity RFP
San Antonio, TX (December 12, 2023) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM) is investing more than $21 million over three years to twenty organizations in an effort to advance digital equity and strengthen communities across Texas. The funding will help increase the capacity of community-based organizations and community anchor institutions throughout the region to provide critical digital resources.
Click here to read more about this work.
Maverick County
Maverick County, Texas (October 12, 2022) – Maverick County is ready to put a Technology Action Plan into place following a broadband engagement convening conducted in partnership with Connected Nation Texas (CN Texas) and Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. Over the course of eight months, members of the Maverick County Broadband Committee, Methodist Healthcare Ministries and CN Texas gathered surveys from residents, businesses, and representatives from multiple industry sectors throughout the county, including agriculture, education, health care, libraries, public safety, and government. Survey responses helped inform a plan aimed at improving broadband adoption, access, and use in Maverick County.
Click here to read more about this work.
TEAMPHARR.NET
The City of Pharr is doing incredible work to close the digital divide in their community and we are proud to highlight their work. As one of our funded partners advancing digital equity, they are helping families access affordable, high-speed internet so they can thrive in today’s digital economy. In 2023, MHM provided the City with $1M to support their TeamPharr.net infrastructure and staffing needs and they have already connected 3,000 homes to the internet!
