From the Digital Divide to Digital Equity: Building Local Government Capacity

Abstract

More than 2.5 billion people worldwide still lack internet access, while many others lack the devices, skills or support needed to benefit from digital services. This digital inequity has significant implications for health, education and employment. Closing the digital divide requires more than broadband infrastructure and isolated digital inclusion programmes. It also requires local governments to coordinate resources, actors and services over time. We examine how Clayton County, Georgia, United States, established an Office of Digital Equity (ODE), led by a dedicated Digital Equity Administrator (DEA), as a local government division. The ODE was the first county‐run Office of Digital Equity in Georgia and has received external recognition for its work. Drawing on a collaborative autoethnographic case grounded in longitudinal practitioner experience, narrative accounts, organisational artefacts and public records, we examine how local government capacity for digital equity is built in practice. We derive five recommendations for municipal leaders: secure political legitimacy while preserving operational autonomy; develop the DEA role; build partnerships to address resource constraints; tailor outreach and provide consistent training and events; and use data‐driven insights to guide decisions. These recommendations show that institutionalising digital equity through a dedicated local government division differs from operating standalone initiatives or coalitions because it requires sustained authority, coordination and accountability. We position digital equity as an ongoing local governance challenge and show how dedicated organisational structures can help local governments move from addressing the digital divide to sustaining digital equity.