RCC IT Club

Presenters:

Josh Eichen, Massachusetts Broadband Institute

Tony Schloss, Metropolitan Area Planning  Council

• Housing

• Transportation

• Climate Resilience and Clean Energy

• Economic Development

• Land Use

• Municipal Government

• Policy

• Digital Access

Metropolitan Area Planning Council

Vision for Digital Access and Equity

Remove barriers to adoption that prevent universal access to reliable and high speed (100/100) internet.

Ensure all residents who desire to improve their digital / technology literacy have a pathway to educational opportunities at a range of skill levels, offered in community appropriate languages and settings.

Augment the capacity of key stakeholders such as IT Departments, School Districts, Libraries, Community based organizations, and municipal staff to address the digital divide

Promote competition among internet service providers offering broadband service.

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​

Digital Justice Principles

Digital justice provides multiple layers of communications infrastructure in order to ensure that every member of the community has access to lifesaving emergency information.

Digital justice ensures that all members of our community have equal access to media and technology, as producers as well as consumers.

Digital justice values all different languages, dialects and forms of communication.

Source: Allied Media, Teaching Community Technology Handbook

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???

Urban Edge: Columbus Ave Corridor

Working with Community Development Corporation 2,000+ units. + other CDC's, CBO's and municipal leaders

Broadband network feasibility for Columbus Ave Corridor

In June 2021 the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a map that displays key indicators of broadband needs across the country.

Columbus Ave Corridor stood out. 

NTIA National

Indicators of Broadband Need

Next phase move to building a network. While growing network of partners.

According to Census data, 27 to 39% of “Columbus Ave Corridor” households do not have access to the internet.

What was learned from the Survey? 

~27% 

Of residents do not currently currently have an internet subscription.

That number is just 7% when we look at all US households 

Urban Edge:Columbus Ave Corridor

According to this Census data, 19% of “Columbus Ave Corridor” population are seniors.

What was learned from the Survey? 

Urban Edge:Columbus Ave Corridor

Took action because of the large expense

~61%

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

Among non-broadband users, 45% say a reason why they do not have broadband at home is that the monthly cost is too expensive (Pew Research Center)

Affordability is often cited as a primary reason for the lack of an internet connection.

Urban Edge:Columbus Ave Corridor

Compared to Boston

The Columbus Ave Corridor experiences substantially higher levels of digital divide issues than Boston as a whole.

Community 

• Pam Walker, Dimock Bragdon resident and community leader 

• Denise Thompson, Jackson Commons resident and community leader 

• Carol Miranda, Tree of Life, Executive Director  

• Marchelle Jacques-Yarde, Union Capital Boston (UCB), Director of Operations & Partnerships. 

• Durrell Harris, Urban Edge, Associate Director of Community Engagement 

• Alia Pacombe, Urban Edge, Director of Community Engagement 

Stakeholder Groups

Workforce Development

• Salvatore Pina, Roxbury Community College (RCC), Director of Workforce Development 

• Leslie Wood, Roxbury Community College 

• Justin Petty, Director, RCC Broadcast Media Technology 

• Amy Nishman, Jewish Vocational Services (JVS), Senior Vice President of Strategy 

• Tech Goes Home 

• Timothy Smith 

• Youth Services of Boston 

Affordable Housing

• Anne Vinick,  The Community Builders, Director of Community Life New England 

• Laura Martin, The Community Builders (TCB) Project Manager 

• Giovanni Valencia, JPNDC

• Domenic Butler, WinnCompanies, Divisional Vice President 

• John Fitterer, MA Association of Community Development Corporations (MACDC), Dir. of Operations 

• Warren Williams, E.D,. Three Squares Main Streets 

• Denise Delgado, Egleston Square Main Streets, Executive Director 

• Susan O’Connor, BNN 

• Glen Williams, BNN

• Dimmock Health Center  

• Library 

Neighborhood Allies

Stakeholder Groups

• Mike Lynch, City of Boston, Director of Broadband and Cable 

• Lydia Argo, Boston Housing Authority

• Boston Public Schools

Municipal

Stakeholder Groups

Digital

Resources

Staff

Programming

Network

People

Social Networks

Community Groups

Fiber routes

Equipment

Design, installation and maintenance

Buildings

Towers

Poles

Rooms

Community Networks Assets

Physical

Organizational

Social

Digital Navigators / Digital Stewards

Digital Navigators

Digital Stewards

• Different from Navigators, Digital Stewards are community members who receive advanced training in internet network technology. 
• They are able to support community-focused WiFi programs that support free and open internet networks.

• Individuals who address the whole digital inclusion process — home connectivity, devices, and digital skills
• Navigators can be volunteers or cross-trained staff who already work in social service agencies, libraries, health, and more who offer remote and socially distant in-person guidance. Can help support the critical issue of adoption as well as access.

Examples

NDIA w/ Salt Lake City Library

Providence w/ Digital Promise

Connecticut State Library

Examples

Allied Media w/ Detroit Community Tech

Southern Connected Communities

New York Digital Stewards

Brookline Tech Buddies 

Open WiFi

Affordable Housing Open Networks

Community Mesh Networks

Examples

ESH in Oakland

ESH w/ NPower Baltimore

Olneyville Providence w/ One Neighborhood Builders

• Utilize commercial or municipal internet networks to access high-speed wireless signals via a rooftop receiver.
• Make wifi access default. Leverage common spaces and broadcast on an open access router system for in-unit access.

Examples

Cambridge Free Soofa Wifi

The People's Network Helium Routers

• A distributed system of routers and devices that work in concert to provide internet access to users within a given geography, owned and managed by the community.
• Explore revenue-generating equipment like Soofa Signs and Helium Routers 

Red Hook Wifi

Detroit Community Mesh

Pittsburg Meta Mesh