Digitally invisible: How the internet is creating the new underclass 

Thursday, September 5, 2024, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. EDT
The Brookings Institution, Falk Auditorium, 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Washington, D.C.

Access to the internet has become a basic human function and right, yet far too many Americans face disproportionate difficulties when it comes to getting and staying online. In her new book, “Digitally Invisible: How the Internet is Creating the New Underclass,” Brookings Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Technology Innovation Nicol Turner Lee explores the complex and persistent realities of being disconnected and the effects on work, education, health care, and housing. In the book, she shares her own decades-long experiences working in community technology, and the stories of the people that she met across the U.S. who are navigating the opportunities and challenges of internet access. In the end, the book outlines a national call to action, which should appeal to policymakers, industry and civil society leaders who seek to be more globally competitive in an increasingly digital age.  

On September 5, join the Center for Technology Innovation at Brookings for a fireside chat with Politico tech reporter John Hendel and Nicol Turner Lee about her new book, “Digitally Invisible.” A panel discussion will follow with some of the individuals highlighted in the book who will share their aspirations for digital equity for the country, and the people in their communities. Books will be available for signing after the event.