Capitalize on Early Wins

Bridge to Broadband Partnership:

Ensure all Everett school district households have a high speed, reliable internet connection

Gateway City WiFi Grant:

Deploying WiFi service in high needs areas of Everett

Youth Works Digital Navigators RFI:

Building community capacity to support digital literacy.

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• YouthWorks allocation can be used to pay young people 17 - 24 stipends to work as digital navigators, and overhead for organizations hosting digital navigators

• The National Digital Inclusion Alliance offers training programs and support to individuals becoming digital navigators and host organizations

• In partnership with the MetroNorth Workforce Investment Board, MAPC will be releasing an RFI for organizations or partnerships between organizations to host digital navigators in Everett.

Next Steps to Capitalize on Early Wins

• Confirm participation in Bridge to Broadband pilot by Everett School District
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• Work with MAPC to identify and address ongoing service costs associated with Gateway City WiFi grant program and potential program expansion.
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• Release an RFP for use of roof top assets such as 393 Ferry St and other public properties for fixed wireless internet service providers.
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• Work with municipal and community partners to identify appropriate respondent(s) to Digital Navigators RFI.

Strategic Next Steps

Establish a Digital Equity Trust to Ensure Device and Service Access

Next Steps:

• Establish a Trust Fund by Executive or Legislative Action
• Coordinate seed funding with the Emergency Connectivity Fund opportunity
• Explore equipment donation and refurbishment partnerships to augment procurement capacity.
• Work with a technical service provider to establish a standard set of products (laptops/routers/etc) that could be easily procured via trust fund.
• Align with Digital Navigators to support use of technology

A Digital Equity trust would be an established and sustained source of funds to support Everett residents purchase technology equipment such as laptop/desktop computers, routers, and wireline service when existing subsidies are unavailable.

Impact

Reduce the number of individuals in Everett not receiving broadband service.

Reduce the number of households not able to provide all members with devices when needed.

Release an RFI for pilot "last mile" fiber connections in underserved areas of the City.

Next Steps:

• Identify pilot opportunity sites using cable and commercial fiber maps.
• Establish a partnership with Mass Broadband Institute or other regional partner to assist coordination of an RFI for service.
• Work with regional partners to access federal or state ARPA funding to support pilot program

Bringing fiber connections into residential buildings will improve speed and reliability for property tenants.  The City of Everett can leverage public funds made available through ARPA and the State's IT Bond Bill to support these connections and associated wiring, which may enable longer term competition initiatives.

Impact

Encourage private sector action to improve infrastructure

Move Everett residents towards federal goal of 100/100 speeds.

Ensure speed and reliability in areas of the City lacking fiber backbone infrastructure.

Brand Everett as a Tech Goes Home Community.

Expand on the current Tech Goes Home pilot program with the Everett school district to ensure that every library and school district in the City has at least one Tech Goes Home trained instructor.

Next Steps:

• Identify pilot opportunity sites using cable and commercial fiber maps.
• Establish a partnership with Mass Broadband Institute or other regional partner to assist coordination of an RFI for service.
• Work with regional partners to access federal or state ARPA funding to support pilot program

Leverage Investments Made through the MBI Gateway City Grant to Expand Free Community Networks in the City

Speed Sources: MLab, Microsoft US Broadband Usage, Demographic Source:  US Census ACS 5 Year, 2019

Dedicate ARPA funding to support a Digital Stewardship program that could expand and maintain a free open access wireless network in Everett.

Resiliency

Continuing the Journey

Explore Municipal Fiber Options with Regional Partners

Speed Sources: MLab, Microsoft US Broadband Usage, Demographic Source:  US Census ACS 5 Year, 2019

Work with MAPC and regional partners to establish a regional digital infrastructure office

Speed Sources: MLab, Microsoft US Broadband Usage, Demographic Source:  US Census ACS 5 Year, 2019