Tag Archives: Digital Equity Plan

EVENT Sep 22: RAMS broadband and digital opportunity meeting

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It’s not clear to me if this is a new addition to the Office of Broadband Development Draft Digital Opportunity Plan listening sessions of something a little different. I think it will be a very interesting meeting!

Friday, September 22, 11:00am — RAMS hosts Bree Maki, MN Office of Broadband

Register HERE

We know that the quality of the access as well as the opportunity to connect through the internet is impacted by where you live on the Range. On Friday, September 22, RAMS will host a digital opportunity listening session with Bree Maki, director of the MN Office of Broadband. Director Maki is seeking input on the state of the draft MN digital equity and access plan as well as how broadband is or isn’t serving communities in northern Minnesota. Participants will have the opportunity to give feedback on the plan, as well as how service AND infrastructure/buildouts are impacting rolling out the plan in underserved communities. Please plan to attend and advocate for your needs.
This is a RAMS event, at the RAMS offices in Mountain Iron. Lunch will be provided. 

Pre-registration is required. Attendance is limited to 20.

Register HERE

Government self-service technology builds trust and engagement with residents

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Civic Plus reports…

We surveyed over 16,000 Americans to determine what factors most impacted community members in fostering feelings of trust in their local government. We found that residents in communities with digital resident self-service technology are more satisfied with their local government than residents still dependent on analog interactions to obtain government services. Residents in technology-forward communities also tend to be more engaged civic participants.

It’s worth noting that Civic Plus provides government technology solutions and may have a vested interest, yet the research is still interesting. I know improving government websites is one of the goals of the Office of Broadband Development’s Digital Opportunity Plan so thought it might be interesting to share the top mort important attributes to a government system, according to their survey takers:

  1. Full public access to all information
  2. Easy to find information about meetings and agendas
  3. Instant notification about administrative decisions
  4. Updates to codes and ordinances their local government makes
  5. Instant notifications about topics their local government will be addressing

EVENT Sep 19: Be Part of the Digital Opportunity Planning Process in Two Harbors

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An invitation to a Office of Broadband Development’s listening session

“Digital opportunity” means everyone has technology options that work for them.
In November of 2021, Congress passed the Digital Equity Act, appropriating $2.75 billion to help Americans access technology. To receive this funding, each state needs to develop a digital opportunity plan. One way to shape Minnesota’s plan is to attend a digital opportunity listening session. Just bring your thoughts about access to the internet, access to devices, digital skills, and Minnesota’s digital future!

September 19

Two Harbors Public Library
Located at: 320 Waterfront Dr, Two Harbors, MN 55616

Register now!

Notes on the MN Digital Opportunity Plan: where can you add your two cents?

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The Draft Digital Opportunity Plan is a roadmap for how Minnesota can make best use of federal Digital Equity funds. Created by the Office of Broadband Development (OBD) based on input from Digital Connection Committees (DCC) around the state, OBD is currently holding listening sessions for folks who want to learn more and/or comment on the report. (I attended the session in West St Paul.) Also, OBD invites folks to send comments on the report until September 29 before OBD makes revisions and submits the plan to the National Telecommunications and information Administration (NTIA), which will be distributing federal funds.

Over the weekend, I finally took a long, deep dive into the plan. It’s a lot of information! I thought it might be helpful to frame the plan for other folks. It’s not as linear as I’d like but I tried to pull out the items I thought were most salient.

About the Funding

It’s helpful for me to remember that federal broadband funding fits four buckets:

  • Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program ($3 billion)
  • Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program ($1 billion)
  • Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program ($42.45 billion)
  • Digital Equity Act Programs ($2.75 billion)
    • Digital Equity Planning Grants ($60 million)
    • Digital Equity Capacity Grants ($1.44 billion)
    • Digital Equity Competitive Grants ($1.25 billion)

The Draft Digital Opportunity Plan only speaks to the Digital Equity Act Programs, which does not include funding for broadband deployment. (More on that distinction below.)

What is the plan of action?

Here are OBD’s key strategies:

  • Establish a Digital Opportunity Leaders Network to coordinate support digital opportunity initiatives regionally and statewide.
  • Expand OBD’s public data and mapping tools to include digital opportunity measures.
  • Prepare reports exploring models for: (1) a statewide tech helpline; (2) state-level programs mirroring ACP or Lifeline; and (3) a state-managed system for loaning large-screen devices long-term.
  • Partner with state offices serving people at high-risk for digital exclusion.
  • Coordinate with ISPs to support newly connected households needing education and resources.
  • Administer targeted grants to support:
    • Local and tribal governments preparing their own digital opportunity plans.
    • Community partners piloting positions focused on trust-based digital opportunity work.
    • Small businesses improving technology access.
    • Local and tribal governments improving web accessibility

Who are the covered populations?

NTIA asks states to focus on “covered populations” that are disproportionately experiencing digital inequity. The list includes:

  • Individuals living in households with incomes at or below 150 percent of the poverty line.
  • Individuals 60 years of age or older.
  • Individuals with disabilities.
  • Individuals with barriers to the English language (including English language learners and those with low literacy).
  • Members of racial and ethnic minority groups.
  • Individuals residing in rural areas.
  • Individuals incarcerated in non-federal correctional facilities.

Much of the report outlines the assets, needs and barriers experienced by each group. (Although OBD uses slightly different language.) If you have special knowledge or interest in any of these groups, your expertise would likely be welcome.

Remember it’s not funding for deployment

For me, it’s hard to separate access from adoption – and that’s not on OBD, their assignment was *not* building networks – but knowing that access is a bigger issue in rural areas and seeing the number of folks impacted below, doesn’t make it easier for me to compartmentalize access and adoption.

Cost and disinterest may factor into rural subscription rates but as of Oct 2022, 74.42 percent of rural Minnesota did not have access to wireline broadband (94.31 did not have access to even fixed wireless) at speeds of 25 Mbps down and 3 up. So, access is clearly an issue. Another indicator is the number of local digital opportunity plans that focus on infrastructure. On page 82, the plan notes that “most other plans focus primarily on broadband infrastructure.” Other being not Duluth, Minneapolis, Hennepin County of Ramsey County/St Paul.

Using info as above but in real numbers, not percentages

People Population W/O Broadband subscription Mobile Data Only Smartphone Only
All 5,802,000 945,726 632,418 406,140
Living in rural 2,605,000 864,860 317,810 213,610
60+yrs 1,348,000 274,992 159,064 80.880
Minoritized people 1,279,000 274,985 222,546 219,988
Veterans 265,900 49192 27,122 15,422
People with Disabilities 649,000 136,290 70,092 66,847
People with experience with Incarceration 28,200 10,124 N/A N/A
Language Barriers 240,000 83,280 51,600 68,640
150% Poverty 904,800 22,2581 171,912 173,722

Can we learn from past programs?

One way I can get my head around the deployment issue is to the remember past Blandin programs, beginning with MIRC (Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities), which morphed into Blandin Broadband Communities (BBC). Here’s a description from the website…

The Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities (MIRC) project was a multi-sector, comprehensive approach to rural Minnesota broadband adoption. In 2010, the MIRC coalition, comprised of 30 partners, was awarded $4.8 million from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for a Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant — a program of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. MIRC-related work was completed spring 2013, and while the federal funding may be gone the work goes on at the community level and through the Blandin Broadband Communities program.

Partners included geographic communities and programmatic partners, who provided a range of services to the communities including refurbished device distribution (PCs for People) and training. The communities formed local teams that went through a community broadband development program where they learned about broadband, assessed their local needs and came up with plans to meet those needs. Partners provided some services for free to the communities. Funds were available for each community to support local projects through a grant process. People in the community applied for grants and the community leadership team helped decide what would get funded.

I can see similarities between MIRC and the Digital Opportunity Plan. Having been a part of the MIRC initiative, I thought it might be helpful to share some of the lesson I remember learning from the process:

  • Partners are very important. You want folks who will work well with the communities. To that end, the Digital Opportunity plan names several (potential?) partners. Comments from folks who have worked with named partners might be helpful.
  • Local teams were key to success and part of that is getting a diverse team of folks who are willing to put in the work. It helps if someone in that group is getting paid because it is a lot of work to attend meetings, even more work to set them up, take notes and share information. A local champion makes all of the difference.
  • Blandin was in a different position during MIRC than OBD will be with the statewide equity plan because Blandin only aimed at supporting a finite number of communities at a time. There was a natural selection process, which meant a community (and/or community leadership team) were vetted before starting. With that in mind, I’m not sure of the role of the Digital Connection Committees moving forward but it does seem that they have self-selected into their current role. Perhaps there’s a way to ensure that they represent the needs of the whole community based on how the community might define itself. (For example, is it a segment of the population speaking for an entire county or are all segments adequately represented?)
  • The promise of money gets people to the table. Reviewing the MIRC program once completed, most participants agreed that the process of working together was at least as important as the funds they received but the promise of funds motivates people to start – and to an extent, continue.
  • Blandin did not fund networks yet found that many of the communities were in desperate need of broadband access. To bridge the gap, Blandin funded feasibility studies, which read like a business case of options for a community to get better broadband. Perhaps there’s room to add something similar to the Digital Opportunity plan.

Other items

A few other items that I caught reading the report.

  • Broadband is defined as 25 Mbps down and 3 up. They cite the FCC for that definition but in Minnesota the broadband goal for 2026 is 100 Mbps down and 20 up. I’d love to see the focus on the higher speeds.
  • The specificity in the report may be a hindrance later. For example, on page 16, there’s a recommendation to hire and train students (high school, after school and college) as part-time tech repair technicians, which may have unintended consequences for existing technicians. Or page 20 suggests providing access to affordable large-screen device or smartphones, when speak-aloud software may be a better option. Leaving room for local solutions or custom fixes might better serve immediate needs as well as help include technology options of the future and that can be easily done by simply alluding to the high-level goals of: Connecting People to People, Connecting People to Information and Connecting People to Resources.
  • One last comment, those goals seem to keep “people” in the consumer seat, it would be nice to evolve the plan to point of helping people become the producers of info and resources, which should include transactional tools such as selling, working, accessing healthcare and innovating.

EVENT Sep 18: Be Part of the Digital Opportunity Planning Process in Hinckley

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An invitation to a Office of Broadband Development’s listening session

“Digital opportunity” means everyone has technology options that work for them.
In November of 2021, Congress passed the Digital Equity Act, appropriating $2.75 billion to help Americans access technology. To receive this funding, each state needs to develop a digital opportunity plan. One way to shape Minnesota’s plan is to attend a digital opportunity listening session. Just bring your thoughts about access to the internet, access to devices, digital skills, and Minnesota’s digital future!

September 18
2:30-4:30pm
City of Hinckley Community Room
Located at: 106 1st Street SE, Hinckley, MN 55037

Register now!

EVENT Oct 4: Third Annual Equity Summit: Belonging in Northeast Minnesota from Northspan’s Welcoming Community Program

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An invitation from Northspan…

We are thrilled to announce that registration for the Third Annual Equity Summit, Belonging in Northeast Minnesota, on October 4 is now open! The event will be hosted by Northspan in collaboration with regional and statewide partners. It provides a platform to discuss themes of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, paving the way for a more inclusive future in the Northland. Everyone is invited to attend, including community leaders, businesses, educators, artists, workforce and economic development, government, healthcare, philanthropists, and YOU!

The summit will be held in-person on October 4 from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Iron Trail Motors Event Center in Virginia, Minnesota. There is a non-refundable cost of $20 per person before August 31, or $40 until registration closes on September 20.

Learn More & Register

Northspan helps local businesses and communities grow. The summit is part of their Welcoming Community Program, which brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds in a spirit of humility and curiosity to explore intercultural differences and find ways to adapt to the challenges that can emerge from them. With support from Blandin Foundation, the Welcoming Program has spearheaded efforts to improve digital equity in the region. Part of that is bringing technology to a wider audience and part is widening the community as a whole – using technology to open the door to new partnerships and bring together new cohorts.

This has been a multiyear effort that has included information gathering, community building and outreach to folks who have felt excluded and programming. The Welcoming Program partnered with other organizations and registered as a Digital Connection Committee to serve as a regional voice in providing input for the State of MN digital equity plan. They know that efforts will continue, and their goal is to strengthen intercultural and technology competencies.

The Welcoming Community Program could serve as a model to other communities that want to improve digital equity. It seems Minnesota’s Digital Opportunity Planning Process might help such organizations and therefore I thought it might be helpful to share the Welcoming Community Programs’ roadmap…

  • Northspan hosted Welcoming conversations with 60 community members across the region to inform the design of the Welcoming Community programming.
  • Northspan gathered broadband access and equity data from across the region, and examined possibilities for initiatives that could fill gaps.
    • In 2023 Northspan registered as a Digital Connection Committee to serve as a regional voice in providing input for the State of MN digital equity plan.
  • Northspan hosted the first NE MN Virtual Equity Summit in October 2021
    • 366 registrants, and over 220 participants
    • 286 individuals indicated interest in continued learning around equity
  • Northspan hosted the 2nd Annual Equity Summit, Belonging in Northeast Minnesota in November of 2022
    • In person at the Iron Trail Motors Event Center in Virginia, MN
    • Over 120 attendees
  • Monthly newsletter around equity themes with continued connection to regional organizations and resources began in January 2022 to present day with a contact list that has grown from 283 to 450 individuals.
  • Inclusion Learning Cohorts were facilitated in two communities in rural areas of the region
    • Partnership with University of MN Extension Center for Community Vitality to provide inclusion readiness assessments and action planning sessions to determine unique learning needs of each community prior to the workshops
    • Goals to:
      • Build relationships across difference
      • Learn inclusive community practices
      • Discuss areas of need in the community in relation to inclusion
      • Decide on a community inclusion project to move forward together
    • Cloquet Area Inclusion Learning Cohort
      • 58 community members participated over the series of seven workshops
      • Currently pursuing two community inclusion projects
    • Cook County Area Inclusion Learning Cohort
      • 34 community members participated over the series of seven workshops
      • Currently determining community inclusion projects to move forward
    • Other project accomplishments include:
      • Established the Duluth Lyceum, with a goal of broadening community participation in facilitated discussions related to various topics
        • Over 100 community members impacted
        • Provided guidance in the establishment of the Itasca Lyceum
      • Shared the model, learnings, successes, and challenges of the Welcoming Community program at invited speaking opportunities across the region.
      • Relationship building with local BIPOC stakeholders
      • Continuation of Welcoming Community Advisory Committee
      • Gathering data on regional Welcoming needs
      • Expanding partnerships among regional college campuses

EVENTS Sep 13: Broadband listening sessions in Fergus Falls

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I’ve been talking a lot about these listening sessions, because it’s our chance to develop and support Minnesota’s Equity Plan, which will impact how much and how broadband funding is spent in Minnesota. I’m going to share info on individual events when I can – to help promote them.

Voice of Alexandria reports…

Minnesota officials are beginning a series of listening sessions to gather input on a plan to boost broadband access and advance digital equity.  The Department of Employment and Economic Development will hold its first Digital Opportunity Program meeting today (Wednesday) in Willmar.  Meetings will happen in 16 cities through the end of next month, including stops in Rochester, Winona, Mankato and Faribault. Two virtual meetings are also scheduled for anyone who can’t attend in person.  Written comments on the draft plan will be accepted through September 29th.

Here in western Minnesota, a meeting will take place in Fergus Falls on September 13th from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fergus Falls Public Library.

Benton Institute for Broadband & Society looks at MN Draft Digital Opportunity Plan

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Benton Institute for Broadband & Society took a look at MN Draft Digital Opportunity Plan. It’s a great recap for folks who don’t have time to read the whole plan, which the Office of Broadband Development released earlier this month. And/or it serves as a cheat sheet for folks who read it and can use a prompt.

I am just going to share the info on state goals…

Goals, Objectives and Strategies of the Minnesota Digital Opportunity Plan

Goal 1: Connect People to People

  1. Minnesota’s digital opportunity advocates and educators statewide are a strong, united group that can lean on each other for fresh ideas, new strategies, and consistent support.
    a. Pilot a structured Digital Opportunity Leaders Network that combines local energy, regional expertise, and statewide continuity. The Digital Opportunity Leaders Network includes three tiers of participation:
    i. Local participation through Digital Connection Committees (DCCs)
    ii. Regional coordination and technical support for DCCs through contracted regional digital opportunity partners
    iii. State coordination for regions from OBD
    b. Convene an inter-agency digital opportunity workgroup with appointed membership from state agencies representing key partners and covered populations.
    c. Expand the DCC model of engagement through annual recruitment campaigns.
    d. Retain existing DCCs through regularly scheduled virtual meetings and ongoing communication from OBD.

Progress towards this first objective will be tracked by measuring the number of Digital Connection Committees statewide.

  1. All Minnesotans have access to a trusted provider of digital skills training, including training that addresses cybersecurity.
  2. Administer grants designed to support digital navigation services, targeting rural cities, rural counties, and organizations that both represent and serve covered populations.
    b. Collaborate with internet service providers who are receiving state and federal infrastructure funds to ensure newly connected households understand the basics of cybersecurity.
    c. Provide all Community Action Partnership (CAP) agencies, Centers for Independent Living, regional public library systems, veteran homes, and area agencies on aging a non-competitive funding opportunity to pilot digital navigator positions that support clients with digital access and skills needs.
    d. Prepare a report that explores models for a statewide technology assistance helpline.

Progress towards this second objective will be measured by increases in: i) the number of individuals reached through expanded and new digital skills programs ii) the proportion of eligible Minnesota households enrolled in the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program, and iii) the proportion of eligible Minnesota households enrolled in the FCC’s Lifeline program. For both programs, Minnesota is aiming to have 70 percent of eligible households enrolled by 2028.

  1. All Minnesotans have access to a trusted provider of quality technical support.
  2. Develop curriculum and administer grants designed to support high schools, after-school programs, and 2-year public and tribal colleges in hiring and training students to work part-time as paid tech repair technicians.
    b. Administer grants to small businesses to assess their technology needs and improve their technology access.

The measure of progress towards the third objective is the number of i) devices repaired through school tech repair programs and ii) small businesses reporting improved technology access.

Goal 2: Connect People to Information

This goal recognizes the significance of data and information as tools for advancing digital opportunities at both the local and statewide levels. It also aims to foster collaboration among diverse communities to create new avenues for data-driven digital opportunity decision-making. Information gains its value by the ways people use it to fuel change.

Transparency is a key value at the core of this goal, emphasizing the importance of open access to information as well as the expert assistance it sometimes takes to make meaning out of it. Making data and information readily available allows for collaboration and informed decision-making, empowering communities to bridge the digital divide and fully utilize the resources offered by technology. By championing accessibility, this goal simultaneously ensures that everyone has an equal opportunity to benefit from digital availability of information.

  1. Minnesotans can access comprehensive data and mapping tools to evaluate digital opportunity in their area as well as statewide.
  2. Expand OBD’s staff to include a position supporting digital opportunity data collection and analysis.
    b. Build upon OBD’s broadband infrastructure maps to include measures of digital opportunity, similar to Purdue University’s Digital Divide Index.
    c. Enhance readily available data with additional data measuring baseline digital literacy and baseline cybersecurity awareness across covered populations.
    d. Incorporate a directory of digital opportunity resources and partners for public reference.

OBD hopes to have a staff member dedicated to digital opportunity data analytics by 2028. The office will further track progress towards this objective by measuring unique views of its digital opportunity mapping tool and resource directory.

  1. All Minnesota townships, cities, counties, and tribes have the opportunity to create localized data-driven digital opportunity plans to support their residents and tribal members.
  2. Administer non-competitive formula grants to townships, cities, counties, regional development commissions, and tribes that seek funding to conduct local evaluation and develop their own digital opportunity plans.
    b. Allow townships, cities, counties, tribes, and other entities to contribute data collected under formula grants to OBD’s comprehensive digital opportunity data and mapping tools.
    c. Partner with University of Minnesota Extension to develop curriculum and deliver a cohort-based training series for townships, cities, counties, and tribes new to digital opportunity planning to receive additional guidance and support.

To reach this objective, the OBD is aiming that, by 2028, 150 cities, counties, and tribes have adopted their own digital opportunity plans (only 4 have to date)—and all tribes and counties along with 50 cities support digital opportunity policies and initiatives.

Goal 3: Connect People to Resources

This goal relates to reliable fixed and wireless broadband internet service; internet-enabled devices that meet the needs of the user; and applications and online content designed to enable and encourage self-sufficiency, participation, and collaboration.

  1. All Minnesota households have the option to afford the internet service available at their location.
  2. Amplify opportunities for internet service providers receiving state and federal infrastructure funds to market income-based subsidy programs, like ACP, to newly connected households.
    b. Collaborate with MN Housing, EducationSuperHighway, North Country Service Cooperative, and other housing partners to improve internet and device access for Minnesota’s apartment, multi-dwelling unit, and manufactured housing residents.
    c. Prepare a report that explores potential models for a statewide program similar to ACP and Lifeline to reduce internet costs for low-income Minnesota households.

To reach this objective, OBD aims for, by 2028, broadband subscriptions in 95 percent of Minnesota’s households, relying upon, as noted above, 70 percent of eligible households participating in the federal Affordable Connectivity Program and 50 percent of eligible households participating in the federal Lifeline program.

  1. All Minnesota adults have the option to afford a large-screen device or smartphone, whichever most efficiently helps them access the applications they require.
  2. Research models for a statewide program similar to ACP that offers a device discount for low-income Minnesotans.
    b. Prepare a report that explores sustainable state-managed system for circulating large-screen devices as long-term loans through collaborating public programs.

In addition to the subscription target mentioned above, OBD wants to, by 2028, decrease the proportion of Minnesota households with access to only a smartphone from 6.4 percent to 2 percent and the proportion of Minnesota households with access to only a tablet from 0.9 percent to 0.25 percent.

  1. New digital opportunity pathways reach Minnesotans who are at high risk for being digitally excluded.
  2. Collaborate with MN Department of Corrections and the MN Career Education Center to ensure formerly incarcerated Minnesotans who are re-entering society receive full re-entry supports connecting them to digital technologies when legally permissible.
    b. Collaborate with DEED’s Office of New Americans to support access to digital skills training and resources for immigrants and refugees.
    c. Partner with DEED’s CareerForce locations to expand digital skills training and resources for career seekers.
    d. Administer competitive grant funding to organizations serving covered populations that are conducting digital opportunity work.

For covered populations, by 2028, OBD wants to reach 95 percent of people with:

  • broadband internet subscriptions,
  • laptop or desktop computers,
  • the digital skills and technical support needed to accomplish their individual technology goals,
  • comfort identifying and mitigating cybersecurity issues, and
  • using state, local, and tribal government websites without barriers related to accessibility standards.

 

EVENTS Sep 6: Broadband listening sessions in Winona and Rochester

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I’ve been talking a lot about these listening sessions, because it’s our chance to develop and support Minnesota’s Equity Plan, which will impact how much and how broadband funding is spent in Minnesota.

The Post Bulletin is sharing information on sessions in Southeast Minnesota…

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is seeking public input on the state’s Digital Opportunity Program draft plan, designed to reduce gaps in broadband access, digital technology ownership and digital skills.

The Digital Opportunity plan outlines how Minnesota will use an upcoming grant from the federal government to advance digital equity.

Related listening sessions on Sept. 6 are planned for Rochester and Winona.

Each state must submit a plan to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration detailing how it will spend its allocation from the $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act, which is part of the $65 billion in federal broadband funding included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that Congress passed in 2021.

“Gathering feedback during this public comment period is a critical process to ensure we capture what a truly Minnesota-centered Digital Opportunity Plan looks like and that it will be valuable in the years to come,” DEED Office of Broadband Development Executive Director. Bree Maki said in a statement announcing the local listening sessions. “We are committed to making sure Minnesotans have the tools, resources and skills to achieve their digital technology goals.”

The local listening sessions are:

* Noon to 2 p.m. Sept. 6 at Witoka Tavern, 27983 County Road 9, in Winona.

* 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sept. 6 at Family Service Rochester, 4600 18th Ave. NW, in Rochester.

In addition to the listening sessions, Minnesotans have two other options to share their thoughts and comments on the state’s Digital Opportunity Program plan draft through Sept. 29.

Residents can review the draft plan in summary or full version formats and provide written feedback through the OBD online comment form , available at

tinyurl.com/2sbpk2a7,

 

EVENTS: Aug 29-Sep 27: Talk about Minnesota’s Digital Opportunity Planning Process

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Yesterday, I mentioned that Minnesota’s Office of Broadband Development (OBD) invites public comment on a draft Digital Opportunity Plan. (Read an executive summary, or the full Digital Opportunity Plan.)

I want to help emphasize the importance of getting public feedback on the report if we want to maximize impact. So today I thought I’d share the times and places of the various meetings. You can register online!

  • Tuesday, Aug. 29 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the Willmar Public Library
  • Wednesday, Aug. 30 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the Marshall Lyon County Public Library
  • Thursday, Aug. 31 from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.at the Field House in Worthington
  • Tuesday, Sept. 5 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at Wentworth Library in St. Paul
  • Wednesday, Sept. 6 from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. at the Witoka Tavern in Winona
  • Wednesday, Sept. 6 from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. at the Family Service Rochester
  • Thursday, Sept. 7 from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. at the Rice County Government Building in Faribault
  • Thursday, Sept. 7 from 1:30 – 3:30 at the Bridge Plaza Building in Mankato
  • Tuesday, Sept. 12 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the UMN-Crookston Student Center
  • Wednesday, Sept. 13 from 2:00 – 4:00 at the Fergus Falls Public Library
  • Thursday, Sept. 14 from 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. Virtual Meeting
  • Monday, Sept. 18 from 2:30 – 4:30 at the City of Hinckley Community Center
  • Thursday, Sept. 19 from 2:00 – 4:00 at the Two Harbors Public Library
  • Wednesday, Sept. 20 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Community Tech Hub in Deer River
  • Thursday, Sept. 21 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at North Regional Library in Minneapolis
  • Tuesday, Sept. 26 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at MN North – Rainy River Campus in International Falls
  • Wednesday, Sept. 27 from 10:00 a.m. – noon at the Northwest MN Foundation in Bemidji
  • Thursday, Sept. 27 from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Virtual Meeting

Benton’s Visions of Digital Equity Principles

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The Benton Institute for Internet & Society has created visions of digital equity principles for States and other who are preparing (or at this point evaluating) digital equity plans…

  1. Digital equity is equity and cannot stand outside the broader work of ensuring that everyone has opportunities based on their needs. Without digital equity, communities will continue to face significant barriers in accessing opportunities and vital resources, thereby perpetuating existing inequalities and further widening the digital divide. Digital visions should articulate a commitment to remove barriers and empower the most vulnerable in our communities.
  2. Envision a state transformed by digital equity. Successful digital equity efforts result in healthier, more robust communities and more opportunity for all. Digital equity visions should illustrate how ubiquitous, affordable connectivity to reliable, high-speed broadband will benefit communities through increased access to health care, education and job training, economic growth, and civic participation.
  3. Devising digital equity visions must be an inclusive, collaborative, and ongoing process led by those most impacted by the digital divide, especially communities that have historically suffered from unequal access to broadband. A top-down approach to digital equity visioning, planning, and implementation will not succeed. Digital equity visions, strategies, and approaches, as well as the specific state digital equity plans, must be the result of collaborative exercises that directly engage communities in the planning process with government, broadband providers, philanthropies, and other organizations. These processes must value and center the perspectives of the people digital equity efforts are intended to serve. Without a seat at the table for community members, there can be no equity. This process is about building relationships and trust, authentically engaging the community and addressing any historical issues.
  4. Digital equity planning should include creating and sustaining healthy digital equity ecosystems. Digital inclusion coalitions often include libraries, community-based organizations, local governments, housing authorities, and others in communities across the country. These coalitions organize to cooperatively address equitable access to and use of communication technologies and play a key role in promoting and supporting healthy digital equity ecosystems. Since many of the underconnected face an array of barriers to adoption, relying on ecosystems makes sense to deliver comprehensive, holistic, wraparound services to address complex needs address complex needs.
  5. Advance and ensure digital safety, privacy, and well-being. Digital equity visions and efforts must center choice, privacy, safety, and digital health at their core, and must empower participants with the tools and skills needed to navigate risks and avoid harms associated with digital environments.
  6. Technology should open opportunities, not create or sustain barriers for people. Digital equity efforts should reduce and remove a full range of barriers through universal design (including multilingual availability) and inclusive access for those with disabilities, which benefits all people and society broadly.
  7. Digital equity efforts must bridge short-term impact and long-term, iterative, and sustainable efforts. Closing the digital divide will not be a one-shot effort; it will be a long-term commitment that should adjust to and reflect changing technology, policy, and circumstances and community needs. Sustained digital equity efforts require short- and long-term key performance indicators as well as periodic assessments of progress.
  8. Network resilience is crucial for ensuring equitable and reliable digital access, enabling sustained digital equity. Networks in all areas must be able to endure various threats to stability, including climate change, disasters, and similar future system stressors.
    • Ethical data collection, interpretation, and use that is adaptive and transparent, and that employs continuous learning practices as well as best practices for informed consent and limits to overcollection and unnecessary retention of data.
    • Shared power approaches such that historically and systemically marginalized groups can hold government and institutions accountable for equitable creation and implementation of the digital equity plans.
    • Going beyond quantitative measures to consider qualitative data and local data collection illustrated through storytelling.
  9. Achieving digital equity requires well-defined metrics for success along with sound measurements and evaluation.
  10. Digital equity visioning and planning requires clear accountability mechanisms and transparent reporting that is widely disseminated. Empowering community members in a transparent process will ensure that principles are adhered to and digital equity funds are spent wisely.

Frontline view of Digital Connection Committee in Winona

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The Fillmore County Journal posts an account from the local leader of a Digital Connection Committee, Daniel Wilson…

The State of Minnesota recently passed a state budget that will include up to $215 million over the next several years to expand internet access. With an additional $650 million coming from the federal government, there will be a lot of resources dedicated to solving the problem of broadband access. To make sure that this money is spent on the communities that need it the most, the MN Dept of Economic Expansion has set up Digital Connection Committees to receive input from the most impacted communities. I organized a committee in southern Winona County, and we had a great conversation with rural residents that live without access to broadband internet.

The group discussed the burden of living without the internet in our digital world. The lack of rural broadband creates significant hurdles to new farmers and new businesses. Rural residents are unable to take remote work jobs that they are qualified for. And the lack of broadband can decrease the property value for rural homes as this has now become an essential service for home buyers. In many cases, farms without cell service rely on spotty satellite internet which puts them at greater risk of being unable to connect to emergency services during periods of low bandwidth (storms, power outages, and cloudy days).

Frontline, local view of statewide digital equity planning

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The La Crosse Tribune posts a view from someone organizing the digital equity plan from the very local perspective…

To make sure that this money is spent on the communities that need it the most, the Minnesota Department of Economic Expansion has set up digital connection committees to receive input from the most impacted communities. I organized a committee in southern Winona County.

The group discussed the burden of living without internet in our digital world. The lack of rural broadband creates significant hurdles to new farmers and new businesses. Rural residents are unable to take remote work jobs that they are qualified for. And the lack of broadband can decrease the property value for rural homes as this has now become an essential service for home buyers. In many cases, farms without cell service rely on spotty satellite internet, which puts them at greater risk of being unable to connect to emergency services during periods of low bandwidth — storms, power outages and cloudy days.

Access to broadband is the same struggle that rural communities faced during the 1930s to electrify the countryside. I believe that broadband is the electricity of our generation. Greater Minnesota will not have the full economic and social participation it deserves until every home has access to broadband internet. Our local governments and internet service providers must prioritize providing this essential service to every home and farm.

NE MN Digital Connection meeting: Notes and Slides

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Northspan hosted a NE MN Digital Connection meeting to help feed results into the State Digital Equity plan. They were kind enough to share their notes and slides…

 Overview

In early 2023 the MN State Office of Broadband Development (OBD) asked local areas to form Digital Connection Committees (DCC), with the intent to gather data on digital equity and inclusion in communities across the state. Nine of these committees formed in Northeast Minnesota representing four of the seven counties in our region. The information gathered by these committees will be used in the development of a statewide digital equity plan to reduce gaps in access, device ownership, and digital skills.

Northspan’s Welcoming Community program is regionally focused and hoped to assist in facilitating partnerships, sharing information, and gleaning regional learnings with the Digital Connection Committees (DCC) in Northeast Minnesota. Collaborating and identifying themes allows us to make a stronger case for our region. By identifying themes that we see regionally we can work together towards common goals and gain additional support for programming that will benefit a broad area.

Welcome & Introductions

Introductions:

Each participant was asked to introduce themselves and answer the following questions:

  • Name
  • Organization or another aspect of your identity you would like to share? (i.e. family, faith, hobby etc.)
  • ‘Where is the most unique/interesting place you have used the internet?’

 

Ten Digital Connection Committees are working with communities within our seven-county region: Aitkin County Government, Biwabik Township, City of Duluth Digital Inclusion Initiative,

Hibbing Public Library, Koochiching County, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Northspan, Quad City Public Libraries, Town of White/Aurora, Wilderness Health (Lake & Cook County).

Those present represented 7 of the 10 Digital Connection Committee’s in NE MN and included: Laura Koeneman Hibbing Public Library
Jaci Nagle Koochiching County
Sally Fineday Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
Amber Lewis Northspan
Jodi Grebinoski Quad City Public Libraries
Jodi Knaus Town of White
Chance Lasher Wilderness Health

 

OPPORTUNITY & EVENT June 27: Gathering Data on Digital Inclusion in Northeast Minnesota

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I’m sharing this with permission from North Span. It’s from an email that went out to their constituents that expressed an interest in broadband…

In the beginning of 2023, the MN Office of Broadband Development(OBD) asked local areas to form Digital Connection Committees(DCC’s), with the intent to gather data on digital equity and inclusion in those communities. Nine of these committees formed in Northeast Minnesota representing four of the seven counties in our region. The information will be used in the development of a statewide digital equity plan to reduce gaps in access, device ownership, and digital skills. 

I am working to ensure that all of our counties and Tribal Nations in our shared geography have the opportunity to provide input into the draft of the Digital Equity Plan even if they did not form a DCC. I have been working with the DCC’s and contacting those without DCC’s to assist in gathering information on digital inclusion from a regional perspective. If you are interested in providing data from your community, I have two options for you to provide input.

  • June 27th meeting of the nine NE MN Digital Connection Committees. I will send a calendar invite and the link is below for this virtual meeting. You are welcome to join us and share insights and hear what is coming out of other communities in our region.
    June 27th @ 12:00PM-1:00PM Link here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81549873785?pwd=ZlExTkdnQWM0dTNBMlY1QzV2eGpTUT09
  • Please complete this brief survey, to provide information on your understanding of digital inclusion in your community(s)/Tribal Nation(s).
  • Please feel free to forward this survey and information to anyone who may be interested in providing input. 

Reports on the data are due to the OBD by June 30th and the draft will be provided for our region to review sometime this Summer.

If you are interested in completing a more intensive data gathering in the next few weeks, I would be happy to help with that in any way that I can.  The State has provided a comprehensive survey template and several DCC’s have put the survey into digital format, hosted one-night focus groups, or pared down the template to a 2 or 3 question survey to make it easier to distribute and more accessible.

Let me know if you have any questions and how I can be of assistance!

Digital Inclusion / Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (mn.gov)

General Use Template (mn.gov)