**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** VITAL TO RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (AFRI'S AGRICULTURE ECONOMICS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES PRIORITY) IS EQUITABLE DIGITAL ACCESS. DIGITAL EQUITY MEANS ALL INDIVIDUALS HAVE DIGITAL (INTERNET) CAPACITY NEEDED FOR FULL PARTICIPATION IN OUR SOCIETY AND ECONOMY. DIGITAL EQUITY IS ESSENTIAL FOR ECONOMIC VIABILITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE. THIS PROJECT'S GOAL IS TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS DIGITAL EQUITY CHALLENGES FACING SOCIO-ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED (SED) COMMUNITIES IN THE SOUTHERN REGION. (USDA DEFINES SED AS RACIAL MINORITIES). RESEARCH WILL IDENTIFY UNIQUE CHALLENGES FACING SED COMMUNITIES ALONG WITH THE CAPACITY OF THE 1890 EXTENSION SERVICE TO RESPOND. EXTENSION WILL DEVELOP AND PILOT SED-RESPONSIVE APPROACHES TO BUILDING DIGITAL CAPACITY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 1890 EXTENSION. RESEARCH CULMINATES IN SYNTHESIZING FINDINGS, INFORMING FUTURE POLICY AND INVESTMENTS.RESEARCH WILL: (1) USE BOTH PRIMARY (SURVEY) AND SECONDARY DATA (PUBLIC DATA) TO IDENTIFY DIGITAL EQUITY CHALLENGES FACING SED COMMUNITIES IN THE SOUTH; (2) GAUGE CAPACITY OF EXTENSION SERVICE IN 1890 LAND GRANT UNIVERSITIES (HISTORICALLY BLACK SERVING) TO RESPOND TO SED COMMUNITY NEEDS RELATED TO DIGITAL EQUITY; (3) EXAMINE HOW SED INDIVIDUALS USE BROADBAND TO ADVANCE QUALITY OF LIFE AS COMPARED TO NON-SED INDIVIDUALS; AND (4) SYNTHESIZE FINDINGS TO GUIDE FUTURE INVESTMENTS AND PRACTICES.EXTENSION WILL: (1) DEVELOP AND DEPLOY TOOLS ALONGSIDE 1890 LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITY (LGU) EXTENSION SERVICE PROFESSIONALS TO ADDRESS IDENTIFIED DIGITAL EQUITY NEEDS IN SED COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE; (2) TRAIN COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE PROFESSIONALS IN 1890 LGUS AS DIGITAL INCLUSION COACHES; (3) EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO SUSTAIN EFFORTS TO CLOSE DIGITAL EQUITY GAPS IN SED COMMUNITIES.