Today, Benton Institute for Broadband & Society Executive Director Adrianne B. Furniss named Adam Echelman a new Benton Fellow. Over the next two years, Echelman will create unique and diverse narratives that explore how low-income adults are grappling with the digital divide. The narratives will appear as a mix of photo essays, video shorts, radio interviews, feature articles, and op-eds. 

"Adam Echelman's exciting and much-needed work is exactly what the Marjorie & Charles Benton Opportunity Fund was created to support," said Furniss. "Adam's multimedia approach will relay how challenging it can be for some people to get and stay connected in a society that is increasingly reliant on broadband access. We are honored to have this opportunity to support and amplify authentic and diverse storytelling around digital equity."

Adam Echelman is also an Alfred Landecker Fellow. Previously, he was the Executive Director of Libraries Without Borders US, a national nonprofit organization that promotes access to information and education for low-income families. He co-founded Baltimore’s Digital Equity Coalition, a network of 60 partner organizations, that worked with the Baltimore City Council to allocate more than $3 million towards digital inclusion, built the case for the city’s mayor to create a new office on Broadband and Digital Equity, and helped legislators in Annapolis pass the Maryland Digital Equity Act.  

"We can't understand what is working or what remains to be done without listening to the very families who are affected by the digital divide," said Echelman. "As a Benton Fellow, I hope that hearing their stories will assist those working to promote digital equity."

The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all people in the U.S. have access to competitive, High-Performance Broadband regardless of where they live or who they are. We believe communication policy - rooted in the values of access, equity, and diversity - has the power to deliver new opportunities and strengthen communities.

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