MAPC's Digital Access Overview

Development of Municipal Digital Access and Equity Plans

Procurement Assistance of Equipment/Services

Workforce Development

Policy

Data Transparency and Accessibility

Digital Access Overlap

Municipal IT Capacity and Infrastructure

Future of Energy Grid

Public Health Data Collection

Building Retrofits

Workforce Development

Public Meeting Processes

Who's Job is it to Solve the Digital Divide?

Planners

Libraries

School Districts

IT Directors

Housing Authorities

Healthcare Providers

Workforce Boards

Community Based Organizations

Elected Officials

Private Sector

The State???

Three Determining Factors of Digital Access

Connection

Adequate Device

Literacy

Fast​

Affordable​

Router​

Personal Computer /Laptop

Use of Technology​

Ensuring functioning equipment​

Evaluating quality of information and privacy risks​

Connection in Chelsea & Revere

Is it Fast?

40 – 50%
of households in Chelsea and Revere with internet access do not have "broadband" speeds​

 

This impacts reliability​

~6,104 (19%)
Chelsea / Revere households lack internet service.​

 

~40%
of survey respondents do not believe their internet service is affordable.

 

72%
of survey respondents have had to cancel or change their internet subscription because it is too expensive​

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

Device Access in Chelsea & Revere

How accessible are devices?

12%
of Chelsea & Revere households have no computing device at all

 

23%
of survey respondents disagree with "People in my household always have access to a computer if needed."

About 60%
of Chelsea / Revere households with internet lease a router from their service provider

 

At least 1,124
Chelsea School District families may be relying on T-mobile hotspots for internet service

Device Source, Computers: US Census ACS 5 Year, 2019.  Device Source, Routers:  MAPC Survey - 5/26/21, Everett School District

Literacy in Chelsea & Revere

Using Technology

~75%
of survey respondents agree with "I feel confident in my ability to use a computer/laptop/Chromebook

~50%
of survey respondents agree with "I feel confident that I am able to resolve issues related to my internet connection"

Anecdotal information gleaned from stakeholder conversations indicates that there are serious concerns related to privacy, particularly among the immigrant population

Source:  MAPC Survey - 5/26/21

Why is it this way?!

Legacy of Cable

Image Source:  https://calcable.org/learn/history-of-cable/

Cable Providers in Everett

Comcast

RCN

Incumbent Cable Franchise, Full Coverage in Everett

 

In 2011 Comcast had 10,603 Cable TV Subscribers.

 

In 2020 it had only 7,000

Source:  Mass DTC Form 500, 2011 - 2020

Competitive Cable Franchise, Limited Coverage in Everett

 

In 2017 RCN had 2,171 Cable TV Subscribers.

 

In 2020 it had only 957

Accessing the Internet Using Cable

Data Center

Fiber (Fast)

Cable (slower)

Cable (slower)

Wifi (slower) or ethernet (more reliable)

Slows down every step

The farther fiber optic cables go, the faster the internet

Copper wire slows the connection

Household size further complicates things

For 1-2 people, internet should be at least 25-50 Mbps

 

$10-$30 per month

For 3-4 people, internet should be at least 50-100 Mbps

 

$35-$50 per month

For 5+ people, internet should be at least 200-500 Mbps

 

$50-$70 per month

Source:  US Census ACS 2019 5 Year, AllConnect

Household size further complicates things

Survey question:

How often does more than one person need to be on the Internet at the same time?

~83%
Frequently or Always

~76%
Spanish Respondents, Yes

Source:  MAPC Survey - 5/26/21

~66%
English Respondents, Yes

Internet Subsidies

~8,000
families in Chelsea and Revere are eligible for Internet Essentials and the Emergency Broadband benefit fund

 

Comcast Internet Essentials Plan offers basic internet service for $10 / Month to income eligible households (SNAP, Free or Reduced Lunch, etc)

 

The Emergency Broadband Benefit program will subsidize $50 for all Comcast service plans

 

Only 3,700
households take advantage of Internet Essentials -- less than half of all eligible

Why don't people take advantage?

Source:  Comcast, National Center for Education Statistics

Preference for local support

Survey question:

I would prefer to have a local resource that could support my technology needs, rather than relying on internet service providers.

~96%
Spanish Respondents, Yes

Source:  MAPC Survey - 5/26/21

~86%
English Respondents, Yes

Why is it this way?

The cable infrastructure at the household level is likely impacting service and reliability.

 

A lack of competition, shrinking cable service revenues, and a lower income service area are likely disincentives for investment from the private sector.

 

At the household level, individuals are likely using outdated or ineffective routers and devices.

 

Internet subscribers may not have the confidence or technical skills to trouble shoot internet speed or function issues.

 

Larger households who may need faster speed packages may be cost burdened and unable to afford those plans.

 

Individuals who are eligible for subsidized services may not be taking advantage of them due to a lack of information, trust, stable housing, documentation, or other structural and social factors.

Where is the data?

Percentage of Households without an Internet Subscription

15.8% of Everett households lack internet service.

38% of Everett households earning less than $20,000 per year lack internet service.

12% of Everett households rely on smartphones for internet service

One-third of the households with internet access do not have "broadband" speeds

The Indicators of Broadband Need map was created by the United States Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). 

 

The map uses several different data sources to show information on broadband availability within the United States. 

Layers in this map were created using data sourced from the American Community Survey collected by the U.S. Census, Measurement Lab (M-Lab), Ookla, Microsoft and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

https://broadbandusa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=ba2dcd585f5e43cba41b7c1ebf2a43d0

GeoTel

What Are the Answers?

Funding Opportunities

Mass Broadband Institute Gateway City WiFi Grant Program

• Up to $100,000 in grant funds to support new WiFi installations in Everett.
• Public Housing/Affordable Housing
• Downtown: Where else?

 

• American Rescue Plan Package

• ~1.2B Deployed to Communities in MAPC Region
• ~$5.4B available to the Commonwealth
• Broadband Infrastructure, Digital Literacy, and Digital Access are all eligible uses of funding