Stony Brook University’s Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology (CEWIT), together with the New York State Digital Equity Network (NYSDEN), held the second annual NYSDEN Conference on August 5. The event, titled "Advancing Access Through Collective Advocacy," aimed to address digital inclusion by bringing together over 100 participants from across New York State. Attendees included elected officials, nonprofit leaders, workforce and healthcare professionals, digital equity practitioners, funders, and municipal agencies.
The conference featured expert talks and panels that covered topics such as funding for digital initiatives, artificial intelligence (AI), accessibility, workforce integration, and coalition-building. The discussions highlighted the importance of collective advocacy and policy support to bridge the digital divide.
Michael Kinch, Chief Innovation Officer at Stony Brook University, commented on the university's ongoing research efforts: “We have a lot going on in AI research at Stony Brook, but we’re actually pioneering the world in quantum internet, which is the next generation of internet,” said Kinch. “Even though we are in difficult times, we’ve doubled down on our commitment to address these challenges.”
Keynote speaker Revati Prasad, executive director of the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, emphasized that achieving digital equity requires political solutions rather than just technological ones. “Digital equity is not a technological challenge, it is a political one,” said Prasad. “The communities most affected by the digital divide — Black, brown, indigenous, low-income, rural people with disabilities — are the same communities that have long been underrepresented in decision-making spaces. It’s not just that broadband hasn’t been built in these communities. It’s that the people who live there haven’t had a voice in how policy is made, or in how resources are allocated, or in what success looks like.”
Josh Breitbart of ConnectALL at Empire State Development spoke about New York's investment in digital infrastructure and literacy: “We’ve already built thousands of miles of new fiberoptic infrastructure that reaches from the urban areas to the most rural areas, and we’re working to serve the remaining locations in the state that do not have a reliable connection,” said Breitbart. “There’s also an equally essential social component to the infrastructure so that everyone is engaged with and contributing to the internet, and benefiting from it for education, economic opportunity, health, access to government services, and civic engagement. That is digital equity.”
Breitbart also referenced ConnectALL’s role as mandated by the WIRED Act—an initiative set to be New York’s largest investment yet into its digital infrastructure—which oversees more than $1 billion in public investments across underserved regions.
“The work that you do to close the digital divide has never been more important as AI quantum technologies accelerate technological transformation,” Breitbart added. “It is truly a mistake that digital equity is not a priority at the federal level, but digital equity is a priority for the state of New York.”
A panel discussion addressed how nonprofits can integrate AI into their operations while emphasizing ethical use and literacy around these tools. Liam Albright from Cornell University stated: “It isn’t necessarily a question of whether organizations are ready and willing,” said Albright. “There’s such a massive push for AI tools that they have to be ready. Everything from Microsoft and Amazon and Google incorporates AI at almost every level of those products. So the time is now.”
CJ Banks from Villa Maria College compared organizational readiness for AI adoption to parenting: “Asking if you’re ready to engage AI is almost like asking if you are ready to be a parent,” said Banks. “So the question is not if they’re ready but are they willing? Because there’s got to be a lot of learning...if we’re not ready as organizations then the communities that need us are not going to be ready either.”
Matthew Salzano from Stony Brook's School of Communication and Journalism reflected on his experience at the conference: “As someone new to the digital equity space it was inspiring to learn about leadership New York state has taken...My hope is that Stony Brook continues to be a key part of this coalition especially as AI will continue to change how we relate to technology — with inequitable impacts.”
Kinch shared his personal perspective on information access: "But I had access to television which gave me access to Schoolhouse Rock...Decades later I got out and became a scientist...now it’s internet access...that helps deliver knowledge...And knowledge truly is power."
Rong Zhao from CEWIT highlighted educational opportunities tied with advancing technology: "AI is reshaping every corner of our daily lives...we must meet this moment by opening doors through opportunities like hackathons robotics camps hands-on learning experiences...The promise of AI will only be realized if we commit to equity..."