Data Science Institute
Center for Technological Responsibility, Reimagination and Redesign

Building Democracy from Broadband to Ballot

In anticipation of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in 2026, a faculty-led initiative called “Brown 2026” was convened to consider how the University can best contribute to scholarship, teaching and programming on the history and legacies of the American Revolution, as well as the role of research universities in a democracy.

Breadcrumb

As the United States nears its 250th anniversary, this project explores how technology enables—and sometimes constrains—access to information, civic participation, and democracy itself. Anchored in CNTR’s vision for technology that works for all, this project directly supports the Brown 2026 commitment to exploring the history and future of democracy through multidisciplinary research, public engagement, and teaching. It tackles real-world questions about access to information, expression of thought, and civic engagement.  Though centered in Rhode Island, this work has national relevance as it joins digital infrastructure research, participatory media design, and civic education to prepare communities for a more equitable, democratic future.

Digital Equity Mapping

We will evaluate real-time broadband and cellular data transfer rates across the state of Rhode Island. Reliable broadband is a civic necessity akin to electricity and running water.  This necessity provides access not only to news and information, but to community groups, local services, and participation in the civic process.
  
Without broadband access, constituents risk:

  • being uninformed on ballot initiatives causing panic voting at the ballot box
  • difficulty learning about candidates, their voting records, and their qualifications
  • not being registered to vote in time or not knowing the location of their polling place


Common limiting factors to broadband access across the country include socioeconomic status, proximity to urban environments, and infrastructure degradation due to geographic features.  In Rhode Island, these factors are present both separately and simultaneously.  

The data we collect can be leveraged for the federal Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program and will help inform policy conversations around creating a reliable and equitable digital infrastructure that works for all Rhode Islanders.