Digital Progress Institute
Digital Progress Institute is a Washington, D.C. nonprofit policy institute that bridges telecom and tech policy through bipartisan advocacy, FCC filings, amicus briefs, and coalition-building for federal regulators, Congress, and consumers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersPhoenix, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Digital Progress Institute does
Digital Progress Institute (DPI) is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit policy institute founded in 2014 that bridges the digital policy divide between the telecom and technology sectors through bipartisan advocacy, research, and coalition-building. Its core offerings center on policy advocacy across four pillars — Robust Competition, Privacy for Every Consumer, Ubiquitous Broadband, and 5G & Beyond — operationalized through formal FCC comment filings (including ICC reply comments and E-Rate re-examination letters), amicus briefs in federal appellate courts (notably the 5th Circuit on the Texas App Store Accountability Act), congressional engagement, and public statements on legislation such as the American Innovation and Choice Online Act. DPI's product surface is modest but distinct: the ACP Map (an interactive mapping tool hosted at map.digitalprogress.tech that visualizes Affordable Connectivity Program and broadband deployment data) and sponsorship of The Center Edge technology policy podcast. The organization serves policymakers and regulators (FCC, Congress, federal courts) as its primary audience, with secondary constituencies in consumers, families, and the technology and telecom industries.
DPI's go-to-market is community-led and influence-driven rather than commercial. The service is free, there is no disclosed pricing model, and the 1-10 employee organization operates without disclosed funding rounds, investors, or parent entities. Revenue mechanics are opaque; the leadership team (President Joel Thayer, Chief Strategist Nicholas Degani, Chief Policy Officer Kim Keenan, and board members Grace Koh and John Howes, Jr.) largely maintains parallel private practices (Thayer PLLC, Reticulated Strategies LLC) and prior senior FCC and congressional roles, suggesting operating expenses are partially absorbed by affiliated entities or modest nonprofit funding. Marketing and distribution flow through earned media (op-eds in outlets such as Washington Examiner and Broadband Breakfast), coalition partnerships (notably a 35-organization, 371-individual coalition co-led with the National Center on Sexual Exploitation), formal regulatory filings, and the sponsored podcast, with no traditional sales channel or paying customer base.
Digital Progress Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Digital Progress Institute
- Legal name
- Digital Progress Institute
- Website
- https://digitalprogress.tech
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Digital Progress Institute is a Washington, D.C. nonprofit policy institute that bridges telecom and tech policy through bipartisan advocacy, FCC filings, amicus briefs, and coalition-building for federal regulators, Congress, and consumers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Digital Progress Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Policy Advocacy
- NAICS
- Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Inclusion & Civic Tech (Connectivity, GovTech for Social Good) (BPAGALAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- EdTech & Digital Learning Policy Research (EDADADAK), Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK)
Keywords
Where Digital Progress Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Phoenix
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Digital Progress Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Nonprofit Funding: Digital Progress Institute is a Washington D.C. nonprofit corporation that operates through a website service. The organization's primary activities involve policy advocacy, coalition building, and influencing telecommunications and technology regulation. Revenue model details are not explicitly disclosed in available materials.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Digital Progress Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Digital Progress Institute is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit policy organization that bridges the divide between telecom and tech policy through bipartisan advocacy, research publications, FCC comment filings, amicus briefs, and coalition building. Its core offerings center on a "Full Stack Framework" covering Robust Competition, Privacy for Every Consumer, Ubiquitous Broadband, and 5G & Beyond, supported by the ACP Map interactive broadband data tool and sponsorship of The Center Edge technology policy podcast.
Product overview
Digital Progress Institute is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit policy institute focused on bridging the digital policy divide between telecom and tech. Rather than offering a traditional tech product, DPI provides policy advocacy services and research across four main areas: Robust Competition, Privacy for Every Consumer, Ubiquitous Broadband, and 5G & Beyond. The organization supports a 'Full Stack Framework' approach to protect consumers and entrepreneurs in the internet ecosystem. DPI's primary offerings include policy advocacy and research publications, the ACP Map tool for visualizing broadband deployment data, and sponsorship of The Center Edge podcast covering technology policy topics.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ACP Map
Companies that use Digital Progress Institute
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Digital Progress Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Digital Progress Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE)coreDPI and NCOSE co-lead a coalition of 35 organizations and 371 individuals dedicated to protecting children online. The coalition submitted a letter to the FCC applauding their re-examination of the E-Rate program and raising concerns about youth mental health, classroom distraction, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful content.
- Georgetown University (Meg Leta Jones)coreDPI's Joel Thayer partnered with Georgetown Law Professor Meg Leta Jones to file an amicus brief in the 5th Circuit Court regarding the Texas App Store Accountability Act (S.B. 2420). The brief argued for parental oversight of children's commercial relationships in the digital age.
- The Center Edge PodcastminorDigital Progress Institute sponsors The Center Edge, a tech policy podcast hosted by Evan Swarztrauber featuring interviews with regulators, members of Congress, founders, investors, and advocates shaping debates on AI, Big Tech, data centers, drones, broadband, satellites, and national security.
- FCC (Federal Communications Commission)coreDPI engages with the FCC through formal comment filings on policy proceedings including inter-carrier compensation (ICC) reform, E-Rate program re-examination, and spectrum policy. DPI submits reply comments and policy recommendations to influence regulatory decisions.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Digital Progress Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Foundation for American Innovation: A DC tech-policy nonprofit that focuses on innovation, competition, and emerging-technology policy. Closely comparable to DPI given overlapping themes (Big Tech, AI, broadband) and a direct personal overlap: DPI Senior Fellow Evan Swarztrauber previously served as a senior fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation.
- ACT | The App Association: A trade and policy advocacy organization representing app developers and tech companies on issues including privacy, competition, and telecom regulation. Comparable to DPI on policy substance (app stores, antitrust, FCC engagement) and through a direct personnel overlap: DPI President Joel Thayer previously served as Policy Counsel at ACT | The App Association.
- TechFreedom: A libertarian-leaning tech policy think tank focused on internet, telecom, and emerging-technology regulation. Directly comparable to DPI: both are small DC-based policy nonprofits that file FCC comments, publish opinion pieces, and engage on broadband, antitrust, and online-speech issues. Evan Swarztrauber previously served as Director of Public Affairs at TechFreedom.
- New America Open Technology Institute: A program of New America focused on internet, broadband, and platform-policy issues, frequently filing comments at the FCC and on broadband equity. Comparable to DPI as a policy think tank working on broadband deployment, competition, and consumer-privacy issues, though typically from a more pro-regulation orientation.
- Public Knowledge: A Washington, D.C. public-interest advocacy group focused on telecom, broadband, copyright, and competition policy. Comparable to DPI as a fellow nonprofit policy advocate that submits FCC comments and amicus briefs and engages on the same broadband, competition, and 5G issues, though from a more consumer-rights perspective.
- Lincoln Network: A policy organization focused on the intersection of technology, innovation, and governance, with frequent engagement on AI, broadband, and platform regulation. Comparable to DPI on emerging-tech policy advocacy and coalition-style output, with a similar scale and DC orientation.
- R Street Institute: A DC-based centrist/free-market think tank that engages on tech, telecom, and emerging-technology policy. Comparable to DPI on the bipartisan, incremental approach to tech regulation and on filing formal comments in federal proceedings.
Others
- Competitive Carriers Association (CCA): A trade association representing competitive wireless carriers on spectrum, broadband, and FCC policy. Comparable to DPI on telecom-policy substance (spectrum, broadband, ICC reform) and through a direct personnel overlap: DPI Board Member John Howes, Jr. serves as Senior Director of Government Affairs at CCA.
Broad incumbents
- American Action Forum: A center-right policy institute that produces analysis across telecom, antitrust, and technology regulation. Comparable to DPI on the conservative/deregulatory orientation on telecom and competition policy, but operates at substantially larger scale and broader issue coverage.
- Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF): One of the largest DC-based tech policy think tanks covering broadband, AI, antitrust, and innovation policy. Comparable to DPI on policy domains (broadband, Big Tech, 5G) but operates at substantially greater scale, with deeper publishing and event capacity.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Digital Progress Institute social profiles
Digital presenceDigital Progress Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Digital Progress Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Digital Progress Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Digital Progress Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Digital Progress Institute
What does Digital Progress Institute do?
Digital Progress Institute is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit policy organization that bridges the divide between telecom and tech policy through bipartisan advocacy, research publications, FCC comment filings, amicus briefs, and coalition building. Its core offerings center on a "Full Stack Framework" covering Robust Competition, Privacy for Every Consumer, Ubiquitous Broadband, and 5G & Beyond, supported by the ACP Map interactive broadband data tool and sponsorship of The Center Edge technology policy podcast.
Is Digital Progress Institute a public or private company?
Digital Progress Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Digital Progress Institute founded?
Digital Progress Institute was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Digital Progress Institute based?
Digital Progress Institute is headquartered in Phoenix, United States, in the North America region.
How does Digital Progress Institute make money?
One revenue line is on record: nonprofit Funding.
Who are Digital Progress Institute's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Foundation for American Innovation, ACT | The App Association, TechFreedom, New America Open Technology Institute, Public Knowledge, Lincoln Network and R Street Institute. Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are American Action Forum and Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF).
Does Digital Progress Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Digital Progress Institute.
What industry is Digital Progress Institute in?
Digital Progress Institute's product category is Public Policy Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAK, Digital Inclusion & Civic Tech (Connectivity, GovTech for Social Good), with a secondary code of EDADADAK, EdTech & Digital Learning Policy Research. Its NAICS code is 54172.