The Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services is joining with Cox Communications and other Fairfax County agencies to offer greater digital access and opportunities as part of Digital Inclusion Week 2023.

Digital Inclusion Week 2023 (Oct. 2-6, 2023) will feature Tech Days at many NCS Community and Senior Centers. See the schedule below. At these events, residents may learn about and register for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides discounted wireless services to households that qualify.

The ACP is a federal program, offered through the Federal Communications Commission, that ensures households can afford broadband and Internet for work, school, health care access and more. Approximately 85% of eligible county families are not signed up. This benefit provides a discount of up to $30 monthly.

• Oct. 2 (10 a.m.-1 p.m.): Cathy Hudgins Community Center at Southgate
• Oct. 3 (10 a.m.-1 p.m.): Hollin Hall Senior Center, Kingstowne Center for Active Adults and Mount Vernon Adult Day Health Care Center
• Oct. 3 (4-7 p.m.): Lorton Community Center
• Oct. 4 (10 a.m.-1 p.m.): Bailey’s Community Center, James Lee Community Center and  Lincolnia Senior Center/Lincolnia Adult Day Health Care Center
• Oct. 4 (4-7 p.m.): Hybla Valley Community Center and Gum Springs Community Center 
• Oct. 4 (5-8 p.m.): Willston Community Center and Kingsley Commons
• Oct. 5 (10 a.m.-1 p.m.): Herndon Senior Center and Adult Day Health Center, Lewinsville Senior and Adult Day Health Care and Pimmit Hills Senior Center 
• Oct. 5 (4-7 p.m.): Providence (Jim Scott) Community Center and Yorkville Community Technology Program
• Oct. 6 (10 a.m.-1 p.m.): Little River Glen Senior and Adult Day Health Care Center and Burke/West Springfield Center Without Walls/Pinn Community Center
• Oct. 6 (3-6 p.m.): Mott Community Center

In addition to the ACP Events, NCS offers of digital resources to the community including: 

• Free Internet Access: All NCS community, senior and teen centers offer free Wi-Fi access.   NCS is currently adding free internet access to parking lots for all of its community centers so that the public can access free Wi-Fi when the building is not open. Find free Wi-Fi access through you at Fairfax County Wi-Fi Locations. 
• Technology Classes - NCS' Technology Programs promote increased technology access and education throughout the community with an emphasis on digital literacy in underserved communities. This includes enhanced academic support and digital literacy both in an after school program setting for children and teens,as well as in designed classes and workshops for adults. For more information, visit NCS Technology Programs. 

Other county events marking Digital Inclusion Week include a Digital Equity Summit on Thursday, Oct. 5 (8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.), activities at Fairfax County Public Libraries, and events hosted by the Minority Tech Foundation at the WISH Center at Hybla Valley Community Center.

The Virtual Center for Active Adults (VCAA) is hosting online courses via Zoom. Classes include: Tech Tuesday: Learn Basic Skills/Open Forum (9-10 a.m., Oct. 3) and Computer Literacy: Understanding and Using Email (11:45 a.m.- 12:45 p.m., Oct. 6).

For more information, visit Promoting Digital Equity to Build Connected Communities.