An Adequate

Device

Literacy

Connection

Three Determining Factors of Digital Access

How many of your neighbors in Gateway Cities are not connected to Broadband Internet?

?

Of households in Gateway Cities Don't have an internet subscription

Percent_Households_No_Internet 2019 ACS

16.6%

Note: Percentage of households in non Gateway MA cities that don't have an internet subscription: 8.9%

How many households in Gateway Cities are not connected to Broadband Internet?

Of households in Gateway Cities Don't have an internet subscription

What % of those with internet experience broadband speed?

Percent_Households_No_Internet 2019 ACS

16.6%

?

Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Broadband Definition: Speed of 25 megabits per second for downloading and 3 megabits per second for uploading.

How many of your neighbors in Gateway Cities are not connected to Broadband Internet?

35%

Don't have access a broadband internet subscription

63%

Of those with a subscription. When tested did not experience broadband level speeds

Microsoft Speed Data

How many households in Gateway Cities don't experience

Broadband Internet?

21.8%

Of households in Gateway Cities, as observed by Microsoft, don't meet the benchmark for broadband speed.

2019 ACS, Microsoft Broadband Availability Data

Percentage of households not accessing broadband speeds

While private internet service providers report to the FCC that they cover 95%+ of the state, that does not accurately reflect the % of people that can afford the internet nor reliable get broadband speeds

There isn't universal connection to fast, reliable, broadband internet in Gateway Cities.

What can municipalities do about it?

Digital access plans can lay out many action items. One place to start is to learn where the internet physically is in your city or town. Based on a section of each municipalities cable franchise agreement, cities and towns have a right to see the private networks operating in the city. If investments are to be made at a city, regional, or state level, we must first identify where fiber connections are and are not.

Coverage data from FCC form 477

There isn't universal connection to fast, reliable,Broadband Internet

What can municipalities do about it?

ADDITIONAL SLIDES FOR CONTEXT TO SOLUTIONS

What can municipalities do about it?

Fund Internet for Affordable Housing

Coordinate Capital Plans to Expand Municipal Fiber

Establish a Digital Equity Trust Fund

Permit Wiring Retrofits and Approaite Private Investment

Develop a Digital Equity and Access Plan

Leverage Cable Franchise Agreement to Map the Internet

Have municipal legal request commercial fiber and able maps. Based on a section of each municipalities cable franchise agreement, cities and towns have a right to see the private networks operating in the city. If investments are to be made at a city, regional, or state level, we must first identify where fiber connections are and are not.

Coordinate an "Open Access" Network

Connect Residents w/ Subsidy Programs

Residents may lack basic computing devices that allow them to effectively work remotely, leverage telehealth, or fully participate in online acitvites.

What can municipalities do about it?

How many of your neighbors in Gateway Cities have access to a desktop or laptop?

What can municipalities do about it?

Support School and Library Programs

Establish Corporate Computer / Device Repurposing Program

Develop a Digital Equity and Access Plan

Establish a Digital Equity Trust Fund

Connect Residents w/ Subsidy Programs (Like EBB)

Residents may lack the skills to navigate a computer or the internet?

What can municipalities do about it?

Support School and Library Training Programs

Host or Fund Digital Navigators / Digital Steward Programs

Develop a Digital Equity and Access Plan

Host or Fund Tech Goes Home Training Programs

Support Community Networks that Develop Local Skills