The MN Office of Broadband Development is hosting talks about Minnesota’s Digital Opportunity Planning Process. It’s an opportunity for folks to learn more and/or chime in with their view of the Draft Digital Opportunity Plan.

I went to the session in St Paul a couple weeks ago and today attended one in Minneapolis.

Most of the session is spent with OBD giving information and since I’ve previously attended a session, I didn’t take many notes. I was more interested in feedback from attendees. There was about 15 minute at the end for folks to ask questions. Many of the questions revolved around the grant opportunities. There seems to be concern that Minneapolis won’t get their portion of grants. (I suspect there was a little bit of that in every session.)  More notes below.

Remarks from Hennepin County:

• Hennepin County has been working on digital equity in the county.
• Hennepin County has been having conversations with public all summer. They have been focusing on talking to folks in apartments.
• As many committees in rural as urban areas. Only area with fewer groups was southwest MN.
• Information literacy is a part of digital literacy?

Q: how many in the room have clients that voice concerns about security?
A: 5 hands up out of 20-ish people in the room

Q: how many in the room know what a digital navigator is?
A: 7 hands up

Q: What are the grant priorities?
A: We don’t know.

Overheard comments:

• how do you categorize “rural city”? It seems like this implies that if you’re rural your needs are more important.
• Interesting that some rural areas are well served.

Gaps after folks spoke in small groups

• Black and brown people and people with disabilities deserve the same computers as people working for the county get. When you get a job, someone sets up your computer. We need to be able to offer the same service. And pay folks when they help them.
• Glad to see noncompetitive grants
• Barriers are system challenges
• We need multiple language supports
• Infrastructure – people without broadband are being left behind
• Glad to see prioritization of digital navigators
• Our experience working with older adults has been very positive
• Youth aren’t a covered population. There are pockets esp in rural areas where youth might not fit in another covered population
• Concerned about rural cities, communities and townships. What’s the difference between a rural and urban city? Mpls is less served than Henn County and the State. Afraid Mpls will be left behind.
• There are areas without broadband in Minneapolis?
• Have you through about vocational schools esp for new immigrants?
• Are we talking about need based or age based? There’s also cultural and location. How do we prioritize it?
• This list doesn’t give a good idea of what we can do.
• Where is the intersectionality?