Benton Institute for Broadband & Society blogs

Achieving Digital Equity in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Grace Tepper — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 16:40:00 +0000

Friday, April 19, 2024

Weekly Digest

Achieving Digital Equity in the U.S. Virgin Islands

You’re reading the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society’s Weekly Digest, a recap of the biggest (or most overlooked) broadband stories of the week. The digest is delivered via e-mail each Friday.

Round-Up for the Week of April 15-19, 2024

Tepper

The U.S. Virgin Islands' Next Generation Network (viNGN) released the draft U.S. Virgin Islands Digital Equity Plan (USVIDEP) for public comment. Being disconnected from a connected world is not new to the U.S. Virgin Islands. The USVIDEP presents an ambitious approach to how the Territory can become "digitally resilient" and fully participate in this digital age through intentional investments in affordable, reliable internet; devices; opportunities to develop digital skills and access technical support; inclusive, online territorial resources; and how to be safe online. Public comment on USVIDEP will be accepted by viNGN until April 27, 2024.

The USVI's Vision for Digital Equity

The vision of the USVIDEP is to create a Territory that is digitally resilient. One where Virgin Islanders have access to the same range of digital resources as Mainlanders, without having to leave the Islands to “experience the internet.” To achieve this ambitious vision, the USVIDEP strives to ensure that all Virgin Islanders have affordable, high-speed internet—both in their homes and at the places where they gather; and the digital tools, devices, resources, and cyber protection to fully participate in an evolving digital world.

Digital equity and inclusion for the Virgin Islands would mean that all Virgin Islanders do not have to worry about whether their internet is fast enough or whether they can afford the internet subscription that best fits their family’s needs. It would mean that all Virgin Islanders could afford to own the devices that would help them meet their educational, health, and workforce goals, as well as their aspirations for a better quality of life. It would mean that all Virgin Islanders felt comfortable using the internet for their basic needs like banking and talking with a doctor and could even incorporate the internet into how they farm, celebrate their culture, and preserve their environment.

Confronting the socioeconomic digital divide, which is the direct product of generations of systematic exploitation, extraction, and disenfranchisement of Virgin Islanders, is central to the USVIDEP’s vision. Successful achievement would mean that the Territory meets and actively practices the three pillars of digital inclusion and has fostered a digital economy that will help to shift the Territory’s reliance on tourism. The latter is crucial, not only to the sustainability of digital equity and inclusion initiatives in the U.S. Virgin Islands, but also for meeting the Territory’s formidable workforce needs and development efforts for building a knowledge-based workforce and economy. The creation of a new digital economy would entice current residents to remain in the Territory and would attract the Virgin Islands Diaspora, who migrated to the U.S. Mainland in search of better economic prospects, to return home for comparable job opportunities.

Covered Populations and Barriers to Digital Equity

By the Digital Equity Act’s definitions, all Virgin Islanders belong to one covered population and 71 percent of Virgin Islanders belong to at least two. Barriers are organized by the five components of digital equity as defined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program and have been exacerbated by the fact that the Territory was still in a state of recovery post-Hurricanes Irma and Maria before the COVID-19 pandemic. Together these barriers directly impact the Territory’s ability to meet economic and workforce development goals, improve educational and health outcomes, promote civic and social engagement, and deliver other essential services.

Barriers Faced by All Covered Populations

The lack of affordable high-speed broadband internet in homes and the absence of community centers, which would allow more Virgin Islanders access to the internet they may not have in their homes, have severely impacted the availability of affordable fixed and wireless broadband technology in the Territory. The cost of a home internet subscription is a challenge for many a Virgin Islander, as are slow internet speeds compounded by few internet service provider (ISP) options, unreliable infrastructure, mountainous geography, and inclement weather which can cause long-lasting service outages for large parts to the Territory at any given time.

Low access to and usage of devices of productivity—i.e., laptops and desktop computers—has limited the availability and affordability of consumer devices and technical support for those devices in the U.S. Virgin Islands. A lack of (authorized) device retailers on-island, repair and maintenance services, poor range of device options, device shortages, higher device costs compared to the mainland U.S., and poor knowledge/skills on how to set up new devices, or who to contact when in need of
technical support has further compounded this issue.

Unorganized, difficult-to-navigate, and siloed online government websites, not all of which are inclusive of non-English speakers or people with disabilities have restricted the online accessibility and inclusivity of public resources and services. A lack of local information technology (IT) personnel and expertise to assist government agencies with developing inclusive websites, or assisting the public with navigating online public services, persists as a barrier to full access and inclusivity.

The absence of digital programs and initiatives for the various demographics of Virgin Islanders on digital literacy and skills is the single biggest challenge to improving the digital skills (literacy) of the Virgin Islanders. A lack of trained staff to facilitate such trainings, tutors to support online course offerings, and understanding of the value of such programs makes introducing digital skills programming a more difficult, but not impossible, endeavor in the Territory when compared to other parts of the U.S.

Lastly, many Virgin Islanders do not know how to, or understand the importance of, protecting themselves online which prevents them from using measures to secure their online privacy. A lack of experience with identifying phishing and scams, leading to an increased risk of falling victim to these fraudulent practices, is an issue in the Islands and the newly formed Virgin Islands Cybersecurity Advisory Council has a big task ahead to bring the Territory up to speed.

Barriers Faced by Specific Covered Populations

In addition to the cross-cutting barriers to digital equity faced by all Virgin Islanders, community listening sessions and key informant interviews revealed several added burdens for specific covered populations:

People living with disabilities require access to steady, reliable electricity and internet to power assistive devices, most of which come with higher costs and there may not be a full range of options in the Territory.
Older adults need age-appropriate digital literacy and skills training, a better understanding of online scams/fraudulent practices that target their demographic, and assistance with overcoming generational fears of technology.
Those impacted by the justice system need large-screen devices to take classes—e.g., a high school equivalency diploma. Those in re-entry programs need one-on-one support (like tutors or case managers) with online trainings and organizations running re-entry programs need funding to procure/offer online courses to those impacted (like nationally certified trade courses).
People with language barriers in the Territory lack language-inclusive device support, digital skills training, and online public resources, especially if they speak Haitian or Dominican Creole.
Lastly, due to their age, many of the Territory’s veterans require one-on-one, in-person support to help navigate online courses or access telehealth resources.

Implementation Strategy and Objectives

The USVIDEP acknowledges that the anticipated digital equity funding for the Territory will not be sufficient to reach all Virgin Islanders with this ambitious Plan. The USVIDEP also identifies other federal funding opportunities that may be leveraged towards achieving the Territory’s vision of digital equity, as well as public-private partnerships to continue the work after federal funds have been expended. Ultimately, the USVIDEP focuses on investing in the following strategies to break down the barriers to access, affordability, and adoption faced by covered populations across the Territory:

Strategy 1: Focus on addressing internet affordability in the Territory

The Territory must focus its attention on strategies and initiatives that can improve the affordability of high-speed broadband internet as high monthly subscription costs remain a significant barrier for most Virgin Islanders. These will include:

Ramping up enrollment of eligible households across the Territory in the ACP to increase home broadband adoption through targeted outreach, like to University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) students, more than half of which are federal Pell Grant recipients and, thus, eligible to receive the federal discount.
Expanding access to free high-speed internet via ARPA-funded community WiFi hotspots across the Territory.
Providing free one-year, high-speed home internet subscriptions to Virgin Islanders who successfully complete digital skills training(s) with proven community partners like UVI Center for Excellence in Leadership & Learning (CELL). By using a Learn2Earn model, Virgin Islanders across all eight covered populations will not only be able to learn new marketable skills but will also be able to earn free home internet subscriptions.
Exploring best practices and other policy solutions, programs, and pilots that could provide support to households if ACP is not funded beyond 2024.

Strategy 2: Offer a robust range of affordable devices to Virgin Islanders

Given Virgin Islanders' low access to, and usages of, affordable devices of productivity; as well as the lack of (authorized) device retailers and on-island technical support, the Territory must ensure that a robust range of devices are accessible and affordable within the Territory from medical and educational to large-screen devices of productivity. These will include:

Distributing free or low-cost computer devices that meet users’ needs to Virgin Islanders who successfully complete digital skills training(s) with proven community partners. By using a Learn2Earn model, Virgin Islanders across all eight covered populations will not only be able to learn new marketable skills but will also be able to earn free or low-cost computer devices.
Partnering with proven community-led device refurbishing programs on the Mainland to train organizations locally on how to set up, run, and sustain a device refurbishment ecosystem in the U.S. Virgin Islands including device programs for low-income families.
Collaborating with UVI CELL to offer (or create) an IT support certification and incentive program to build a cadre of IT professionals who can provide community IT support services.
Partner with proven community partners, like AARP-VI and older adult housing communities, to offer basic computer device training and who to contact when in need of technical support.

Strategy 3: Introduce Learn2Earn digital skills programs across the Territory

Learn2Earn has been a successful model for conducting digital skills programs across the U.S. by providing an incentive for enrolling, attending, and successfully passing multi-day courses. In a Learn2Earn model, Virgin Islanders across all eight covered populations will not only be able to learn new marketable skills but will also be able to earn free home-internet subscriptions and/or devices upon successful completion of the course.

Courses can range from how to monitor glucose levels at home for older adults to how to set up an online marketplace for small local business owners. By investing in this strategy, the USVIDEP should have a direct impact on several of Vision 2040’s “aspirational goals” including an increased focus on healthcare and health sciences (Goal 3) and support for entrepreneurs to scale their businesses (Goal 4).

Strategy 4: Launch territory-wide education and information campaigns

In the hierarchy of Virgin Islanders’ online concerns, online security and privacy have been among the lowest on the list. In fact, only one of the more than 50 individuals who participated in any of the six community listening sessions and digital equity workshops expressed concern about data privacy or the ability of Virgin Islanders to identify false/fake information online.

This does not mean that Virgin Islanders do not want or need support on how they stay safe while being online. For example, in 2018, the V.I. Water and Power Authority (WAPA) fell victim to an email scam when it authorized “two wire transfers—totaling more than $2 million—to an offshore account;” and in 2017 the V.I. Police Department (VIPD) had a “personal data breach involving police-maintained information.”

The Territory will develop and launch an inclusive, mass media campaign for Virgin Islanders about online scams, phishing, and other security threats. The campaign will use various media—including public service announcements (PSAs), digital ads, radio and TV spots, flyers, and guest spots on local programming—to engage and inform the community around these issues.

Strategy 5: Leverage and create new partnerships

The Territory has a wealth of proven partners that are trusted by the community to deliver and support a range of services. Using digital equity funding, the Territory’s DE Team will design a grant opportunity whereby these community partners can apply to receive funding for programs that directly serve the Territory’s covered populations. These organizations and programs funded would contribute towards achieving the USVIDEP’s key performance indicators (KPIs) outlined in Section 2.3: Measurable Objectives.

Additionally, there are several areas of focus for outreach and partnership development that will be prioritized over the next year that were identified but not fully explored during this planning process. These areas and partners include:

School Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) clubs like the Rays STEM Club at Ivanna Eudora Kean High School on St. Thomas.
Lutheran Social Services and other faith-based organizations providing vital services to the Territory’s covered populations, namely older adults.
Virgin Islands Interagency Council on Homelessness and other community organizations that served the Territory’s unhoused population.
Children and youth summer camps and academies like UVI Research and Technology Park (RTPark) coding camp for children, called VI STEM Kids; and Girls that Code – USVI, a free academy hosted by UVI that aims to teach girls in grades 6th through 12th about computer science while fostering sisterhood and creativity; the St. Croix Environmental Association (SEA) Summer Program, and UVI’s Youth Ocean Explorer Summer Program, which is a 4-week, hands-on marine science program for middle to high school-aged students interested in exploring our oceans.
My Brother’s Workshop, a non-profit organization that offers programs in engineering, manufacturing, product packaging, inventory, and graphic design.
The Office of Health Information Technology (OHIT) and OHIT Working Group to support an integrated healthcare system that uses technology to improve the health and wellness of U.S. Virgin Islands residents.
Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) on library initiatives and community-based, environmental conservation tech programming.

Lastly, creating new partnerships with organizations working on digital equity across the U.S. will be crucial to importing new ideas, methodologies, and evidence-based programming into the Territory. The Territory’s DE Team has already begun to build partnerships with Mainland-based organizations implementing digital inclusion programs that could be emulated in the Territory. Initial discussions have begun with the Durham County Library in North Carolina (for library-based digital inclusion programs, STEM-based programming for youth, and tech mobiles), the Kramden Institute in North Carolina and Digitunity in New Hampshire (on how to create a device refurbishment ecosystem in the Territory), Hopeworks in Pennsylvania (on technology skill development and real-world job experience for young adults), and PCs for People in Minnesota (on procuring and providing low-cost devices). Additionally, the Territory’s DE Team is also part of the NTIA Islands Cohort, a digital equity working group of all the American Territories – i.e., American Samoa, the Commonwealth of North Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam and the USVI.

Strategy 6: Expand the foundation for promoting and advancing digital equity in the U.S. Virgin Islands

As digital equity and inclusion initiatives are in their infancy in the Territory, the U.S. Virgin Islands must invest in the core capacity, tools, and resources to help promote and advance digital equity across the Islands. These investments should include sustaining and expanding digital equity staffing at the local government level and adjusting program funding to ensure that a digital equity lens is being incorporated when making program decisions and prioritizing investments. Another key element – establishing a Digital Equity and Inclusion Director for the Territory – has already been completed. Additionally:

A USVI Digital Equity and Inclusion (USVI-DEI) Council will be established to steer and coordinate digital equity efforts across the Territory, as well as to advise local government agencies on best practices and programs.
Digital equity resources, including programmatic best practices, will be collected, developed, and made freely available online to support digital inclusion activities and programs locally.
Virgin Islanders will continue to be engaged on digital equity via a range of outreach and engagement methods. These could include annual workshops for local organizations offering digital equity programming to social media campaigns around digital inclusion themes and ideas.
The impact of digital equity initiatives will be measured and tracked in the Territory to demonstrate the impact of these programs locally.

Strategy 7: Sustain and grow the Territory’s investment in digital equity

The Territory’s commitment to digital equity requires a significant and ongoing commitment of resources to tackle a digital divide that has been exacerbated by a history of exploitation and extraction with low investment in the local economy and skill. To activate and sustain digital equity and inclusion initiatives, the Territory will need to raise funding beyond what may be available from the federal government. The USVIDEP’s goals and strategies will be expanded beyond the Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program performance period by establishing a Digital Equity Endowment for the Territory and revenue generation opportunities. The Territory's aim is to raise $5 million for the endowment over three years through private and philanthropic means, some of whom have already expressed interest in such a fund. The Territory will also pursue future digital equity funding opportunities that would bolster USVIDEP’s goals and strategies as they arise.

Lastly, the Territory’s DE Team will explore creating state-of-the-art digital learning labs where Virgin Islanders can log on to free high-speed broadband internet, experiment with digital devices and new technologies, and build or hone their digital skills. These community-led spaces will provide a safe and engaging environment for all Virgin Islanders to acquire new skills related to education, healthcare, workforce development, civic and social engagement, food sovereignty, and cultural expression.

Goals and Measurable Objectives

The success of the USVIDEP will be measured by documenting and promoting the five digital equity goals outlined by the NTIA under the Digital Equity Act:

Goal #1: Improve the availability of affordable fixed and wireless broadband technology in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Strategy: Per the FCC Connect USVI Fund Stage 2 grant, Broadband VI (“Liberty VI”) must build/expand a FTTH network to serve 46,039 locations through St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas with 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) speeds by 2027.

Key Performance Indicator( KPI): 100 percent of the requisite number of locations in the Territory will be offered 1 Gbps of services by the end of the sixth year.
Near term: 40 percent of the requisite locations in the Territory will be offered services by December 31, 2024.
Long term: 100 percent of the requisite locations in the Territory by December 31, 2027.
Baseline data: 46,039 locations with speeds below 1 Gbps

Strategy: Ramp up enrollment of eligible households across the Territory in the ACP to increase home broadband adoption through targeted outreach.

KPI: Increase the number of eligible households enrolled in the ACP by 10 percent per year for the next 3 years.
Long-term: All eligible and interested Virgin Islands households will be enrolled in ACP.
Baseline: 6,780 households

Strategy: Expand access to free high-speed internet via ARPA-funded community WiFi hotspots across the Territory.

KPI: Increase the number of free community Wi-Fi hotspots across the Territory to 200 by the end of September 2025.
Baseline: 90 community WiFi hotspots

Strategy: Provide one-year, high-speed home internet subscriptions for free to Virgin Islanders who successfully complete digital skills training(s) with proven community partners like UVI CELL.

KPI: Decrease the percentage of households in the U.S. Virgin Islands without high-speed internet in their home from 20.8 to 12 percent by 2029.
Baseline: 20.8 percent of households in the U.S. Virgin Islands do not have high-speed internet in their home.

Strategy: Explore best practices and other policy solutions, programs, and pilots that could support households if ACP is not funded beyond 2024.

KPI: Decrease the cost of 1 Mbps (download) in the Territory from $0.90 to no more than $0.60 by 2029.
Baseline: The cost of 1 Mbps (download) from either of the two major ISPs in the Territory is $0.90 as of March 21, 2024.

Goal #2: Improve the availability and affordability of consumer devices and technical support for those devices.

Strategy: Distribute free or low-cost computer devices that meet the user’s needs to Virgin Islanders who successfully complete digital skills training(s) with proven community partners.

KPI: Distribute 3,500108 free or low-cost devices of productivity that meet users’ needs (refurbished and new) based on a Learn2Earn model.
No baseline data

Strategy: Partner with proven community-led, device refurbishing programs on the Mainland to train organizations locally on how to set up, run, and sustain a device refurbishment ecosystem in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

KPI: Secure 500 donated devices from local businesses, institutions, and agencies to be refurbished.
No baseline data

Strategy: Collaborate with UVI CELL to offer (or create) an IT support program to build a cadre of IT professionals in the Territory.

KPI: Increase the cadre of IT professionals in the Territory by at least 100 percent by 2029.
Baseline: 20 IT jobs were available in the Territory as of October 2020, according to the Virgin Islands Department of Labor (VIDOL).

Goal #3: Improve the online accessibility and inclusivity of public resources and services.

Strategy: Consolidate all the Territory’s online public resources under one top-level domain for better security and user experience.

KPI: All public resources in the Territory are accessible online and under one top-level domain by 2029.
Baseline: To be determined by the Bureau of Information Technology (BIT) after analysis of online public resources in the Territory under the NTIA State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) grant.

Strategy: Conduct a user-focused accessibility audit of all online public resources across the Territory to identify gaps and areas for improvement.

KPI: Audit is conducted, a catalogue of public resources is created, and gaps/recommendations are provided to BIT, relevant local gov’t agencies, and the public by 2029.
Long-term: Recommendations are adopted resulting in all the top public resources most used by Virgin Islanders being user-friendly and inclusive.
Baseline: Audit will determine the baseline data upon which improvements can be made.

Goal #4: Improve the digital skills (literacy) of Virgin Islanders.

Strategy: Use proven community partners, like UVI CELL, to introduce Learn2Earn digital skills programs so that all Virgin Islanders can acquire new marketable skills while earning a free or low-cost device and a 1-year broadband internet subscription.

KPI: Provide 3,500 Virgin Islanders with digital skills training by 2029.
No baseline data

KPI: Increase the confidence of Virgin Islanders in using the internet for activities like filing official documents online and seeking medical care from 46 and 44 percent, respectively, to 75 percent by 2029.
Baseline: Only 46 percent of USVIDES respondents said that they were “comfortable” filing official documents online and only 44 percent said that they were “comfortable” seeking medical care or engaging in telehealth consultations.

Goal #5: Improve the awareness and use of measures to secure the online privacy of, and cybersecurity with respect to, the individual.

Strategy: Launch territory-wide education and information campaigns on the value of the internet and how to stay safe online.

KPI: Develop campaign materials in English, Spanish, and Creole and distribute to the community.
Near-term: Materials are developed, translated, and disseminated by 2025.
Long-term: At least half of the population of Virgin Islanders aged 18 years (35,000 people) are reached by at least one campaign material by 2029.
No baseline data

Strategy: Launch territory-wide education and information campaigns on the value of the internet and how to stay safe online.

KPI: Reach at least 35,000 Virgin Islanders—roughly half of the population aged 18 years and older—with campaign messaging around online data security and privacy by 2029.
This will include public service announcements (PSAs) in local print newspapers, radio, television, digital billboards, and YouTube by 2025.
No baseline data

Submit Your Comments on USVIDEP

Public comments on the U.S. Virgin Islands' draft Digital Equity Plan can be submitted to jnbobbit@vingn.com or info@usvideal.com until April 27, 2024. For more information on digital equity in the Territory, visit the viNGN website.

Quick Bits

Weekend Reads (resist tl;dr)

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Apr 25––April 2024 Open Federal Communications Commission Meeting (FCC)

Apr 25––Work in the age of artificial intelligence (Brookings)

Apr 25––The Impact of High-Speed Internet Access on Incarcerated and Justice-Impacted Individuals (NTIA)

May 15––FCC Tribal Workshop Hosted by the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma (FCC)

May 23––May 2024 Open Federal Communications Commission Meeting (FCC)

Jun 6––June 2024 Open Federal Communications Commission Meeting (FCC)

Jun 6-7––2024 Conference on Artificial Intelligence & Financial Stability (US Dept of Treasury)

Jun 10––Pathways to Affordable Connectivity (ILSR, NDIA)

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State Profiles

American Samoa's BROADBANDiNEI Digital Equity Plan

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Friday, April 12, 2024

Weekly Digest

American Samoa's BROADBANDiNEI Digital Equity Plan

Round-Up for the Week of April 8-12, 2024

Tepper

The American Samoa draft BROADBANDiNEI Digital Equity Plan—released by the Broadband Coordination, Opportunities, Redevelopment and Deployment (BCORD) Office—reflects priorities, strategies, collective needs, and opportunities identified through local coordination with regards to providing affordable, accessible, secure, equitable, internet-for-all. The concept of BROADBANDiNEI––information Network for Expansion and Inclusion––focuses on an island-wide initiative aimed to encourage the immediate transition to all things digital equitably thereby fostering a more efficient, productive, and resilient American Samoa. The BCORD office released its draft plan with this in mind; BCORD has made this plan open for public comment until April 15, 2024.

American Samoa's Vision of Digital Equity

The vision of American Samoa’s BROANDBANDiNEI Digital Equity Plan is to ensure that all American Samoans have access to affordable, inclusive, accessible and secure resources and opportunities to become an effective part of the digital global village.

Covered Populations and Barriers to Digital Equity

American Samoa is an “unincorporated” and “unorganized” territory of the United States with a population of about 49,710 people (2020 Census), located 2,300 miles southwest of Hawaii, over 4,100 miles southwest of San Francisco and 1,600 miles northeast of New Zealand. It is “unincorporated” because not all provisions of the U.S. Constitution apply and “unorganized" because Congress has not provided the territory with an organic act, which would organize the government, much like a constitution would.

American Samoa consists of seven islands (Tutuila, Aunu’u, Ofu, Olosega, Ta’u, Rose Atoll, and Swains Island) and is the only U.S. soil located south of the equator. American Samoa—being part of the most remote, rural and underserved non-contiguous area of America—faces many constraints in providing affordable, accessible high-speed internet for many reasons, including our geographic location, current economic structure, market conditions, lack of natural resources, physical constraints, statistical and economic data, demographic information, cultural and political considerations and global trends.

The term “covered populations” is defined in Digital Equity Act Sec. 60302(8) and includes veterans, people who live in rural areas, people with disabilities, people with low literacy, English learners, and racial and ethnic minorities, among others. 100 percent of American Samoans are considered members of covered populations due to rurality and remoteness.

Low-Income Individuals

There are 9,834 registered households in American Samoa with a median income of $28,532 (Census 2020). Issues and barriers identified include:

Access to connected accessible devices - There are limited options for devices on the islands and the costs are high. In the 2021 American Samoa Statistical Yearbook 1,151 consumers invested in a SMARTphone compared to 1,049 cellular phones. Investment in technology such as desktops, iPad, Kindle, Notebooks, and Tablets totaled 2,494 consumers. These investments amount to 35 percent of the student population (13,372 individuals) in American Samoa.
Samoans live in generation homes with shared access to devices, computers, and laptops.
Convenience of mobile/portal connection or devices versus home subscription.
Weather conditions or unrepaired cable/infrastructure disrupt connectivity.
Digital equity will also support and deliver emergency communications through streaming and wireless platforms.
Transportation needs to get to/from medical appointments and other obligations outweigh the need to purchase internet.

Aging Individuals

American Samoa had a population of 49,710, with 25,254 males (50.8%) and 24,456 females (49.2%). Over six percent of the population (over 3,000 individuals) is aged 65 or over and 0.3 percent is aged 85 or over. Further barriers for aging individuals include:

The older adults in American Samoa are limited to digital skills in reference to digital equity. Digital equity will encourage home subscriptions for older adults to access social engagement, telehealth services for family members, and telework so they can remain present as caregivers.
Issues of language barrier, reliable internet connection, affordable devices and digital skills were most relevant and pertinent. The National Council on Aging reported that 27 percent of older adults live alone.
There are limited opportunities to engage with others virtually due to a lack of portable devices and connectivity to the facilities. Digital equity will virtually engage older adults with family members through virtual platforms, social media, and emails. Older adults are also aging caregivers to their spouses and/or family members with a disability because they cannot afford daycare services.
In addition, Elder Fraud and Abuse have become a greater concern, especially in the digital space, as more scammers are targeting seniors who are primarily less technology literate. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations, IC3 Reports & IC3 Elder Fraud Reports, over the last three years 16 percent of American Samoa victims were over 60 years old, with a loss of $162,736.

Incarcerated Individuals

The Tafuna Correctional Facility (TCF) is the only jail in American Samoa. In 2022 it was reported that TCF held an average of 292 inmates within its walls. Seven percent of the inmates were female with 93 percent being male. Empowering an incarcerated person through the existence of digital equity can enhance a successful reentry into society. Digital inclusion will respond to health, essential services, employment, education, and civic and social engagement. Barriers for incarcerated individuals include:

American Samoa has a limited amount of attorneys. There are 89 registered members of the American Samoa BAR association. Less than 30 are actively living in the territory.
The correctional facility currently has no computer and internet access, minimizing the chance to research the justice system, educational opportunities, and career readiness skills.

Veterans

Accessing healthcare services is one of the main barriers for veterans in American Samoa. American Samoa is home to ~1,000 veterans who are serviced through the VA American Samoa Community Based-Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) with many off-island referrals to Hawaiʻi and other states. Mental health is the primary request for local veterans. Digital equity will deliver therapy sessions to assist and respond to veterans from their homes. Challenges for veterans include:

Veterans in American Samoa face challenges with access to VA websites (closed network), telehealth appointments, online medical or other government services to access healthcare information.

Individuals with Disabilities

The disability and aging community, ages 25 to 64, use the internet to telework, job search, or for online training. The U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy found that 78.4 percent of people with disabilities have some type of home internet subscription. Broadband access from home will help to create employment opportunities, access to rural telehealth and emergency information, and broaden educational opportunities. Digital equity will also broaden and support the infrastructure of delivery of accessible emergency communications through streaming and wireless platforms. Further needs and/or barriers include:

Access to affordable accessible devices and other assistive technology.
Access to technical support for accessible devices and other assistive technology.
Lack of transportation options for people with physical disabilities.
Challenges with access to online services.
Deaf individuals in American Samoa commonly speak Samoan. American Sign Language (ASL) does not translate directly into English, which may pose barriers for English and Samoan speakers alike.

Individuals with a Language Barrier

There are 9,834 registered households in American Samoa (96.7%) percent that speak a language other than English. Challenges for these households include:

Ninety percent of these households speak Samoan. Samoan is the primary native language, which places the majority of students in a Limited English Proficient category. Technical support is necessary to assist students and parents in order for a learner to have a positive experience and educational career in a digital era. Students can not equally access the fundamentals of learning if digital guidance is not available.
Limited websites or online services have been translated into Samoan and other spoken languages.
There is generally limited technical support for devices.
Many government programs operate only in English. Language access, including in public information campaigns, advertisements, and program enrollment processes, is a driving force in keeping residents from getting digitally connected.

Individuals who are Members or a Racial or Ethnic Minority

Ninety-five percent of American Samoa’s residents are a member of at least one ethnicity. Pacific Islanders who are Samoan, Niuean, Tokelauan, Tongan, Fijian, or of another population make up at least 88.7 percent of the total population. The Asian race makes up 5.8 percent, which includes Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Asian Indian, and other Asian residents. These individuals face barriers to accessing the internet, including cost concerns:

Low-income households and minorities were less likely to have home internet connections. But if they did connect at home, they were more likely to rely solely on mobile wireless.

Individuals who Reside in a Rural Area

A lack of critical services in rural and isolated communities such as American Samoa limits the territory's ability to thrive as the only U.S. territory south of the equator. Rural healthcare with one hospital serving six of seven islands requires more attention with limited access. One community college to build professional capacity is limited to serve on the main island of Tutuila. Delivering rural education on three of six populated islands is challenging. Additionally, digital equity is needed to broaden telehealth services to address limited providers in rural areas. Barriers and needs for rural households include:

American Samoa Community College and public libraries aim to recognize tablets and laptops as a learning resource for students to check out with a library card. Devices deployed across schools and public libraries will contribute to students' academic achievement.
A lack of connectivity diminishes the attractiveness of communities for residents and businesses.
There is poor connectivity to Manua Island due to a cut in the submarine cable.

Implementation Strategy and Objectives

BCORD has designed its digital equity initiatives in the most pragmatic way possible—to be actionable, measurable, and sustainable—rather than risk designing more ambitious initiatives that are not financially or practically actionable. Below are the office's proposed strategies and implementation plan.

Goal 1: Affordable Broadband Access

Improve the quality of life afforded through services and access to affordable broadband and internet service for covered populations.

Strategy: Conduct outreach to covered populations to provide details about affordability programs

Key Activities:

Support outreach to covered populations to provide details about affordability programs.
Track and maintain public-facing information on existing local, state and federal assistance-based initiatives including the Federal Communications Commission's Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and Lifeline. This information will include eligibility requirements, how to apply, and participation rates across covered populations.
Expand outreach to covered populations through accessible online resources; community centers; libraries; health clinics; K-12 and postsecondary schools; Spanish language pamphlets; advertisements with newspapers, radio, or television; social media; and/or related in-person events.

Strategy: Coordinate future initiatives addressing affordability to ensure that they are targeted to fill gaps in federal and local support and equitably improve access for covered populations.

Strategy: Support and promote veteran, minority, and women-owned local businesses through the use of broadband.

Strategy: Coordinate territory-wide efforts to promote digital equity including an updated household survey.

Key Activities:

Support promotion of and outreach for digital equity programs.
Conduct an updated household survey.
Track and maintain public-facing information on existing local, state and federal assistance-based initiatives including the Affordable Connectivity Program and Lifeline. This information will include eligibility requirements, how to apply, and participation rates across covered populations.

Goal 2: Responsible Governance and Strong Institutions

Develop an organizational, programmatic and technical infrastructure that includes governance, policies and regulations, collaborations, and partnerships permitting American Samoa to become an effective part of the global digital village.

Strategy: Develop a body for long-term territory-wide oversight to promote broadband availability, reliability, affordability and accessibility for covered populations.

Key Activities

Support the establishment of a Digital Equity Advisory Panel.
Evaluate up to 3 options for long-term public oversight to promote broadband availability, reliability, affordability and accessibility for covered populations.

Strategy: Ensure the Digital Equity plan is regularly evaluated and updated.

Key Activities:

Identify shared tools for grantees to track outputs and facilitate data analysis to inform future improvements.
Integrate evaluation and data collection throughout implementation to measure progress and inform strategy development.

Strategy: Strengthen disaster response capabilities and community resiliency through broadband.

Key Activities:

Provide regular digital equity information to emergency management agencies before, during, and after a disaster event.

Strategy: Prioritize funding and investment in policies that advance digital equity.

Key Activities:

Develop a Digital Equity Grant Technical Assistance program.

Goal 3: Technology Literacy

Promote technology literacy at all levels.

3.1: Device Availability and Technical Support

Strategy: Support the delivery of outreach and training to covered population about digital literacy.

Key Activities:

Designate funding for digital equity programs for covered populations.

Strategy: Encourage and promote private sector efforts to increase access to devices and/or lower costs of devices through computer refurbishing, recycling and/or training.

Key Activities:

Designate funding for computer refurbishing, recycling and/or training programs.

Strategy: Develop and maintain technical support for residents to ensure that programs using online processes can be accessed and used broadly.

Key Activities:

Identify local organizations or programs that can provide technical support for devices.
Designate funding to support technical assistance programs.
Where possible, assist with establishing computer rooms to support community use and digital literacy classes.
Collaborate with the local business community and non-profit sector to facilitate broadband connectivity for employees and clients.

3.2: Digital Skills

Strategy: Cultivate and promote efforts by the private sector and community-based organizations to provide digital skill training and technical support to covered populations.

Key Activities:

Provide funding to offer opportunities for technical support programs.
Promote opportunities for digital skills development classes, training and other activities to be done through outreach to covered populations.

Strategy: Establish a Territory-wide Framework for Digital Skills Attainment.

Key Activities:

Identify best practices and provide guidance on integrating digital skill development into K-12 and post-secondary education, workforce training, and other public training and programming.

Strategy: IT/ICT Workforce Development Program for qualified IT/ICT staff or personnel.

Key Activities:

Provide funding to offer opportunities for technical support programs.

Strategy: Support the delivery of telehealth through training for healthcare providers to support on- and off-island referral, care coordination and continuity of care for patients.

Key Activities:

Provide funding to offer opportunities for technical support programs.

Goal 4: Cybersecurity

Enable American infrastructure.

4.1: Accessibility and Inclusivity of Public Resources

Strategy: Encourage the adoption of the BROADBANDiNEI Initiative across the Territory to ensure the information provided online meets current accessibility standards.

Key Activities:

Provide funding opportunities to support BROADBANDiNEI initiatives to support digital transitions of public resources and services.

Strategy: Develop long-term mechanisms to continue improving accessibility and inclusivity as technology and unmet needs for covered populations change over time.

Key Activities:

Support the establishment of a Digital Equity Advisory Panel.
Evaluate up to 3 options for long-term public oversight to promote broadband availability, reliability, affordability and accessibility for covered populations.

Strategy: Ensure that programs using online processes for applications or to manage services are designed for maximum accessibility and also integrated as much as possible to simplify access to the public.

Key Activities:

Provide funding opportunities to support IT programs on cybersecurity for all including covered populations.

4.2: Cybersecurity

Strategy: Promote territorial policies that govern online privacy and cybersecurity in consideration of the unique needs of covered populations.

Key Activities:

Provide funding opportunities to support the establishment of policies that govern online privacy and cybersecurity in consideration of the unique needs of covered populations.

Strategy: Ensure that online privacy and cybersecurity educational resources are available.

Key Activities:

Partner with public and/or private entities to make available privacy and cybersecurity education resources online.

Strategy: Cultivate and promote efforts by private sector and community organizations to provide online privacy and cybersecurity training to covered populations.

Key Activities:

Partner with public and private entities to provide online privacy and cybersecurity training.

Strategy: Support alignment of activities with the Territory Cybersecurity Plan.

Key Activities:

Support activities related to covered populations within the Territory Cybersecurity Plan.

Strategy: Establish an IT/ICT Workforce Development Program for qualified IT/ICT staff or personnel in cybersecurity.

Key Activities:

Provide funding opportunities to support IT programs on cybersecurity for all including covered populations.
Include training for industry certifications and development of testing centers.

American Samoa Wants to Hear From You

Public comments on American Samoa's draft Digital Equity Plan can be submitted here, by email at bcord@doc.as.gov, or in person at the BCORD Office until April 15, 2024. For more information on digital equity in American Samoa, visit the BCORD Office website.

Quick Bits

Weekend Reads (resist tl;dr)

ICYMI from Benton

Upcoming Events

Apr 17––2024 Bipartisan Tech Policy Conference (Next Century Cities)

Apr 17––Digital Equity Champions for All Learners: Partnering to Advance Digital Equity (Department of Education, ALA, Common Sense, Council of Chief State School Officers)

Apr 25––April 2024 Open Federal Communications Commission Meeting (FCC)

May 15––FCC Tribal Workshop Hosted by the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma (FCC)

May 23––May 2024 Open Federal Communications Commission Meeting (FCC)

Jun 6-7––2024 Conference on Artificial Intelligence & Financial Stability (US Dept of Treasury)

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847-220-4531
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Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

State Profiles

Digital Skills Foster Confidence in Life

benton — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 15:10:27 +0000

Monday, April 8, 2024

Digital Beat

Digital Skills Foster Confidence in Life

Dr. Prasad

In a field focused on maps and megabytes, speed and latency, those of us working to realize universal, equitable broadband can sometimes lose sight of what connectivity can mean for people’s day-to-day lives.

Today, we are launching some phenomenal research by EveryoneOn CEO Norma E. Fernandez that not only expertly applies the tools of in-depth, careful, and closely observed, qualitative research, but does so to focus on often overlooked groups—low-income African American/Black and Latina women. Her new report, From Fear To Confidence: The Digital Skills Journey of Underserved Women, focuses on women’s lived experiences and offers valuable insights into how digital inclusion programs can be designed to fit into complicated lives and meet diverse needs.

Fernandez set out to understand what motivated women to embark on their digital skills journeys, and when they did, what circumstances they encountered that either created a speed bump or smoothed their path. Through interviews and surveys, Fernandez's research discovered common threads, ones that transcend race, ethnicity, and geography.

Learning, Helping Others, and Independence Are Motivators to Build Digital Literacy and Skills

The women who participated in Fernandez’s research understood the imperative to be connected and have skills to survive in the digital landscape. They wanted to feel comfortable in this world and not have to rely on family or friends to conduct online activities.

Family, Friends, and Community Support Broadband Adoption and Learning

The women needed the support of their families to be able to attend and complete their digital skills training, both for logistical and emotional support. Community partners were also essential in ensuring women’s access to digital skills training.

Juggling Fear, Domestic/Household Responsibilities, and Unaffordable Internet Prices Are Realities

Women had serious practical constraints on their time and ability to develop their digital skills. They needed to navigate domestic responsibilities—such as preparing meals, doing laundry, and caring for parents—in order to even attend the training sessions.

As the end of the Affordable Connectivity Program looms, we must reckon with ongoing needs. The majority of women who participated in Fernandez’s research said paying internet bills was a challenge. How do they continue to hone their skills, find new jobs that use these skills, or take advantage of online conveniences, if they cannot afford ongoing internet service in their homes?

Perhaps my favorite aspect of Fernandez’s work was how her findings stressed both practical and emotional aspects. Yes, women wanted skills so they could get a different job or manage some tasks easier. But they also wanted to not feel embarrassed because they needed help from their kids to do something online. Fear, Fernandez discovered, is a huge obstacle to beginning a journey to acquire digital skills. How do any of us feel when we think we could break something valuable if we don't know what we're doing?

Fernandez also wanted to understand what it means for these women to become more connected and more digitally skilled.

Digital Skills Foster Confidence in Life

The women who attended the digital skills training programs learned to do a range of daily tasks—from using email to communicate with their children’s teachers to creating flyers for their volunteer activities. Their successful acquisition of these skills translated into a newfound confidence that extended beyond their digital endeavors.

Fernandez’s strongest finding was that every interviewee, without exception, expressed heightened empowerment and overall confidence. Several women expressed sentiments such as “I feel like I can do anything now!” This is the kind of data that cannot be “captured” by surveys alone.

The conversations Fernandez had in Milwaukee, Los Angeles, and the Bay Area revealed how digital inclusion practitioners may conceptualize things differently than these women do. For instance, when Fernandez asked about “challenges” in their digital skills journey, the word did not resonate. Sure, they needed to find childcare or transportation before they could come to the class, but those were simply the facts of their life, not challenges.

Fernandez was able to glean these insights because of how she did her research, interacting in English and Spanish, ensuring these women understood what the research was for and how their words would be used. Fernandez built a crucial level of trust. That participants gained something from the interaction was also important. Fernandez recognized the value of people sharing their time and perspectives and offered them a gift certificate for participating.

These crucial insights into the lived experiences of low-income Black and Latina women are exactly why the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society set up the Marjorie & Charles Benton Opportunity Fund. We want to support research projects, often practitioner-led, that will help us understand realities on the ground, design better programs, and demonstrate what makes a real difference in people’s lives. A new round of fellowships will open this summer.

Fernandez will present this research tomorrow in a webinar hosted by the Benton Institute. She will be joined in conversation by Aneta Thomas Lee of the Illinois Broadband Lab and Maria Chaparro, Founder of Mamacitas Cibernetricas. Their discussion will draw from their experiences working with marginalized communities across the country -- from the borderlands to the rural Black South, from the Midwest to major urban centers. The panelists will discuss how women gain not just confidence through these digital skills journeys, but also how they are crucial to digital equity organizing within their communities.

The webinar will be held Tuesday, April 9th at 1 PM ET and you can register for the webinar at this link.

Dr. Revati Prasad is the Vice President of Programs at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society.

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Kevin Taglang
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Benton Institute
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1041 Ridge Rd, Unit 214
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847-220-4531
headlines AT benton DOT org

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Innovators in Digital Inclusion

NTIA Making Resources Available to Help States Turn Digital Equity Plans into Reality

benton — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 19:00:49 +0000

Friday, March 29, 2024

Digital Beat

NTIA Making Resources Available to Help States Turn Digital Equity Plans into Reality

On March 29, the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program. Through this program, NTIA is making funding available for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Indian Tribes, Alaska Native entities, and Native Hawaiian organizations¹ to turn their digital equity plans into digital inclusion activities.

What State Digital Equity Capacity Grants Are For

State Digital Equity Capacity Grants can only be used for five purposes:

To update or maintain a state's digital equity plan (although no more than 20 percent of the grant can be used for this purpose),
To implement a state's digital equity plan,
To make subgrants to implement a state's digital equity plan,²
To evaluate subgrantees' efforts (although no more than 5 percent of the grant can be used for this purpose), and
Administrative costs (although no more than 3 percent of the grant can be used for this purpose).

NTIA encourages states to focus on the following:

Covered populations (defined by law as people living in low-income households; people age 60 or above; incarcerated individuals; veterans; people with disabilities; people with a language barrier; members of racial or ethnic minority groups; and people who live in rural areas),
Long-lasting and meaningful change,
Measurable implementation strategies, and
Stakeholder engagement. Stakeholders who are directly affected by the proposed strategies and interventions should be involved to encourage ongoing feedback regarding the effectiveness of the interventions and to seek input on potential solutions and improvements.

Although this is not an exhaustive list, NTIA suggests state activities include digital literacy and skills training; e-government and civic engagement; device distribution programs; economic development (digital entrepreneurship, online job training, and remote work opportunities, fostering economic empowerment and reducing disparities); online access to health and mental wellness services; online accessibility; and access to affordable broadband service.

State Digital Equity Capacity Grants cannot be used to supplant other federal or state funds that have been made available to carry out the activities above. Nor can funds be used for broadband deployment.

Funding

Congress appropriated $840 million for grants under the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program through fiscal year 2024³ ($240 million for fiscal year 2022, $300 million for fiscal year 2023, and $300 million for fiscal year 2024). Future NOFOs are expected to make up to an additional $300,000,000 available for implementation of Digital Equity Plans and digital inclusion activities in each of fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

The Capacity Grant Program does not require cost sharing or matching, and NTIA will not give additional consideration during the evaluation process for applications proposing a non-federal cost-sharing contribution.

About $760 million is available to 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico

Each state’s funding allocation, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, was calculated based on a formula defined in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The formula takes into account the relative population of the state (50%), the relative size of the covered populations residing in the state (25%), and the comparative lack of availability and adoption of broadband (25%).

About $45 million is available to native entities

The Capacity Grant program will make $45 million available on a competitive basis to Native Entities to promote digital inclusion and broadband adoption efforts for their communities. This includes over $3 million for digital equity planning activities and $42 million for related projects. The Digital Equity Act requires that no less than 5 percent of award funds be available to Tribal governments and Native entities.

About $8.4 million is available to territories

The Digital Equity Act includes a set aside of no less than 1 percent of available award funds for the remaining territories: American Samoa, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and U.S. Virgin Islands. This NOFO includes a set aside of $8.4 million, split equally among those four territories.

State/Territory	Digital Equity Tentative Allocation Amount
Alabama	$13,702,566.00
Alaska	$5,631,769.64
Arizona	$16,170,760.44
Arkansas	$10,161,429.01
California	$70,226,453.82
Colorado	$12,368,261.03
Connecticut	$9,183,114.07
Delaware	$4,816,482.10
District of Columbia	$3,804,000.00
Florida	$41,748,794.74
Georgia	$22,455,639.68
Hawaii	$6,017,160.03
Idaho	$6,305,226.45
Illinois	$23,732,912.78
Indiana	$15,096,770.19
Iowa	$8,442,129.37
Kansas	$8,229,246.17
Kentucky	$12,123,531.39
Louisiana	$12,727,887.98
Maine	$5,784,349.60
Maryland	$13,427,134.17
Massachusetts	$14,133,924.00
Michigan	$20,585,775.60
Minnesota	$12,033,288.01
Mississippi	$10,752,090.73
Missouri	$14,237,940.09
Montana	$6,938,534.64
Nebraska	$6,500,627.76
Nevada	$9,200,546.13
New Hampshire	$4,942,018.62
New Jersey	$18,094,857.62
New Mexico	$8,673,975.84
New York	$36,984,641.81
North Carolina	$22,456,097.01
North Dakota	$4,549,772.25
Ohio	$23,291,991.74
Oklahoma	$11,233,311.64
Oregon	$9,947,586.17
Pennsylvania	$25,508,473.61
Rhode Island	$4,540,059.53
South Carolina	$12,846,583.30
South Dakota	$5,010,234.08
Tennessee	$15,814,288.00
Texas	$55,641,147.86
Utah	$7,795,149.91
Vermont	$5,299,150.18
Virginia	$18,330,732.47
Washington	$15,983,291.58
West Virginia	$9,011,588.00
Wisconsin	$13,248,029.83
Wyoming	$5,251,485.99
American Samoa	$2,100,000.00
Guam	$2,100,000.00
Northern Mariana Islands	$2,100,000.00
Puerto Rico	$9,807,187.39
U.S. Virgin Islands	$2,100,000.00

Evaluation

Grantees and subgrantees are required to incorporate program measurement and evaluation activities as a part of their program design and implementation—including progress made toward meeting the measurable objectives identified in a state's digital equity plan., Information collected must include the following data points:

Number of Covered Population(s) served,
Number of people served within each Covered Population,
Total number of people served,
Number of programs implemented by type,
Anecdotal/personal testimony demonstrating the positive impact of the Program,
Quantifiable evidence of progress toward the measurable objectives identified in the Digital Equity Plan, and
Impact on the State or Territory’s goals regarding economic and workforce development outcomes; educational outcomes; health outcomes; civic and social engagement; and delivery of essential services.

Timeline

States (including the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) have until May 28, 2024 to complete and submit applications for State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program awards. U.S. Territories have until July 31. The application window for Indian Tribes, Alaska Native entities, and Native Hawaiian organizations will open September 25, 2024, and close on February 7, 2025.

NTIA expects to begin issuing awards to states no later than August 28, 2024 and to make awards on a rolling basis.

Awardees will five years from the date of their grants to spend the federal funding.

Get More Info

This article is not intended to be a full summary of the NTIA's NOFO; please read the notice for additional details.

NTIA employs a great number of marvelously helpful and informative people. For additional information about this funding opportunity, we suggest starting with the following:

For programmatic inquiries: Director of Digital Equity Angela Thi Bennett digitalequity@ntia.gov

For grant management inquiries: NIST Grants Officer Darren Olson darren.olson@nist.gov

For media inquiries (media are people, too): Director of Public Affairs Charles Meisch press@ntia.doc.gov

Notes

We generally use "states" in this article to mean all these "eligible entities."
Each state must establish a fair, transparent, equitable, and inclusive process for selecting and conducting risk assessments of subgrantees. The applicant’s selection processes must be made clear to potential subgrantees before subawards are made. NTIA strongly encourages states to take deliberate steps to ensure that subgrant opportunities are accessible to a diverse range of organizations, particularly those owned, led and/or managed by members of the Covered Populations.
Fiscal year 2024 began on October 1, 2023, and ends September 30, 2024.

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Kevin Taglang
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A Voyage to Digital Equity in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Friday, March 29, 2024

Weekly Digest

A Voyage to Digital Equity in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Round-Up for the Week of March 25-39, 2024

Tepper

The Commonwealth of the North Mariana Islands (CNMI) Broadband Policy & Development (BPD) Office released its draft Digital Equity Plan, A Voyage to Digital Equity in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. In the dynamic landscape of the digital age, where information and opportunities surge like currents across the Marianas Trench, the concept of digital equity emerges as CNMI's northern star. Embracing the rich heritage of CNMI's traditional art of island navigation, this plan emerges as the compass, guaranteeing fair and inclusive access for every resident of the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth's Vision for Digital Equity

The vision of the CNMI Broadband Policy and Development Office is to:

Be the compass that navigates CNMI's voyage into the new digital world where digital affordability, accessibility, and adaptability are a common wealth for all.

The CNMI Broadband Policy and Development Office is dedicated to advancing the realization of CNMI's Digital Equity Vision, specifically designed to meet the unique needs of the region. This vision navigates the CNMI towards a comprehensive and context-specific understanding of "digital equity,” aiming to identify challenges and mobilize resources to help overcome the ocean of the digital divide, ensuring that all individuals of the CNMI possess the essential tools and knowledge to be successful in their voyage into the digital landscape.

Covered Populations and Barriers to Digital Equity

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands faces a few challenges in achieving digital equity due to its location, diverse population, and vulnerability to natural disasters in the rapidly changing digital landscape. The islands are situated in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean around 3,700 miles west of Hawaii and 1,300 miles from Japan. Providing equal access to digital resources and technologies is a significant challenge. Additionally, the CNMI is susceptible to typhoons and other natural disasters that can disrupt transportation and communication.

To address these challenges, the CNMI BPD Office must prioritize the digital equity needs of all individuals living on the islands, recognizing the importance of inclusive access to broadband technology and resources. With a population of approximately 47,329 people, most residents live on three islands, namely Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, while some live in the northern islands, making all CNMI residents rural inhabitants according to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's (NTIA) definition of a covered population. Regardless of their location or background, it is essential to prioritize digital equity for all residents.

The 2020 Island Areas Censuses provided valuable insights into technology usage, capturing data on computer and internet use. Among all households in CNMI, 96.7 percent possessed at least one type of computer, and 84.0 percent had a broadband internet subscription. Further exploration into computing devices revealed that out of the total of 13,810 individuals with one or more types of computing devices, 8,684 owned desktops or laptops. Interestingly, 13,556 individuals owned smartphones, and 6,888 had tablets or other portable wireless computers.

In terms of internet subscriptions, data indicated that out of 12,012 households with an internet subscription, the majority (11,336) relied on cellular data plans, with 3,210 exclusively using this type of plan. Additionally, 8,605 households had broadband such as cable, fiber optic, or DSL, with 641 having no other type of internet subscription. A smaller number (151) utilized satellite internet service, with only 1 relying solely on this type. Thirteen households reported having other services with no additional internet subscription.

Despite these technological trends, 730 households had internet access without a subscription, and 1,540 households reported having no internet access at all. These statistics highlight the diverse technology landscape within CNMI, reflecting variations in connectivity and device usage across the community.

The percentages of each covered population out of the total CNMI population are as follows:

Individuals in Low-Income Households: 38 percent
Aging Individuals (also known as Manamko in Chamorro): 5.9 percent
Incarcerated Individuals: 0.5 percent
Veterans: 2.2 percent
Individuals with Disabilities: 9.5 percent
Individuals with a Language Barrier: 35.2 percent
Individuals who are Members of a Racial or Ethnic Minority Group: 90.56 percent
Individuals who Primarily Reside in a Rural Area: 100 percent

Digital Equity Principles and Objectives

As CNMI formulated its strategy, BPD identified three core principles encapsulated in the "3 A's": Affordability and Accessibility, and Adaptability. These overarching principles align with the comprehensive framework of the draft Digital Equity Plan, which comprises our five key pillars: Health Outcomes, Educational Outcomes, Economic and Workforce Development, Essential Services, and Civic and Social Engagement.

Objective: Availability and Affordability of Broadband for All Covered Populations

Strategy: Establish Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs) across the CNMI to enable residents to access free internet.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

Baseline: No CAIs currently established.
Near-term: Establish 5 CAIs across the CNMI by 2026.
Long-term: At least 10 CAIs across the CNMI will be established by 2030.

Strategy: Develop a Digital Navigator Program to provide technical assistance advisors for digital skills training and assistance.

KPIs:

Baseline: No digital navigator programs currently exist.
Near-term: Establish 5 digital navigator programs across the CNMI by 2026.
Long-term: At least 50 digital navigators across the CNMI will be trained by 2030.

Strategy: Develop community digital literacy workshops in collaboration with local agencies and educational institutions.

KPIs:

Baseline: To be determined.
Near-term: Develop at least 4 digital literacy training programs by 2027.
Long-term: Provide quarterly digital literacy workshops to community members throughout 2030.

Objective: Cybersecurity and Privacy Awareness

Strategy: Create and distribute educational resources on cybersecurity best practices and privacy protection measures.

KPIs:

Baseline: No educational resources or programs currently exist.
Near-term: Create and distribute educational materials through print and social media on cybersecurity protection by 2025.
Long-term: Develop marketing and awareness campaign to educate the community about cybersecurity protection and community workshops by 2026.

Strategy: Ensure that technology distribution programs require participants to attend cybersecurity and privacy workshops.

KPIs:

Baseline: No existing data.
Long-term: All individuals participating in the distribution program must attend a cybersecurity and privacy workshop.

Objective: Inclusive and Accessible Online Public Resources

Strategy: Partner with government agencies to ensure compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidance (WCAG) and promote user experience.

KPIs:

Baseline: To be determined
Long-term: All government agencies will be in compliance of WCAG.

Strategy: Connect Technical Assistance Advisors with government agencies to promote online public resource best practices.

KPIs:

Baseline: To be determined
Long-term: Digital navigator program will include training and support for online government services.

Strategy: Enhance accessibility features of government websites and mobile applications, including text-to-speech and captioning options.

KPIs:

Baseline: To be determined
Long-term: All government websites will be accessible to all individuals with special needs.

Objective: Availability and Affordability of Consumer Devices and Technical Support

Strategy: Offer free or subsidized access to technology and internet for those who cannot afford it.

KPIs:

Baseline: To be determined
Long-term: By 2027, all individuals who cannot afford technology or the internet will participate in the program.

Strategy: Provide devices at CAIs.

KPIs:

Baseline: No CAIs currently exist.
Long-term: All community members will have access to necessary digital devices to utilize digital technology at CAIs.

Implementation Strategy and Key Activities

This section delineates the CNMI’s comprehensive approach to bridging the digital divide. The ensuing strategies and key activities specifically target BPD's objectives related to the plan's essential pillars, while addressing the impediments to digital equity. These implementation strategies are responsive to the existing broadband landscape and the obstacles impeding widespread adoption. These strategies concentrate on enhancing affordability, facilitating access to devices, nurturing digital skills, providing technical support, and streamlining digital navigation.

Health Implementation Strategies

Objective: Telehealth Network

Key Activities:

Initiate discussions with telehealth and telecommunications providers to establish a robust telehealth network connecting Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and the Northern Islands.
Implement a secure and reliable communication infrastructure for telehealth consultations.

KPIs:

Number of telehealth consultations conducted through the network each month.
Percentage of successful telehealth consultations conducted without any technical issues.

Objective: Devices for Healthcare Providers

Key Activities:

Procure and distribute necessary telehealth devices to healthcare providers across the islands.
Provide training programs for healthcare professionals on the effective use of telehealth equipment.

KPIs:

Number of healthcare providers using telehealth devices in their practice.
Percentage of healthcare professionals who have completed the training program and are confident in using the telehealth equipment.

Objective: Telehealth Literacy Programs

Key Activities:

Develop and implement telehealth literacy programs at technology centers to educate the public on the benefits and usage of telehealth services.
Conduct community outreach programs to ensure widespread awareness and participation.

KPIs:

Number of individuals who have completed the telehealth literacy program.
Percentage increase in the number of individuals using telehealth services after the community outreach program.

Education and Workforce Development Implementation Strategies

Objective: Collaboration with PSS

Key Activities:

Form a working group with at least one representative from each school district to assess the current IT/CS curriculum.
Develop a comprehensive IT/CS core curriculum that aligns with industry standards and emerging technologies.
Conduct at least two workshops and training sessions for educators in a year to help them effectively integrate the new curriculum.

KPIs:

Number of representatives from each school district joining the working group.
Percentage of alignment of the new curriculum with industry standards and emerging technologies.
Number of educators attending the workshops and training sessions.

Objective: Enhancing IT Career Paths

Key Activities:

Collaborate with at least five high schools to introduce specialized IT career paths, including internships and mentorship programs with local industry partners.
Conduct at least five awareness campaigns and workshops in a year to inform students and parents about the potential of IT careers and the skills required.

KPIs:

Number of high schools collaborating and offering specialized IT career paths.
Number of students participating in internships and mentorship programs.
Number of attendees in the awareness campaigns and workshops.

Objective: Digital Navigator Program

Key Activities:

Develop the digital navigator program and implement it in at least three schools.
Establish partnerships with at least three local businesses to offer real-world projects and experiences for students.
Assist at least five students with job placement who participate in the Digital Navigator Program within a year.

KPIs:

Number of schools implementing the digital navigator program.
Number of partnerships with local businesses established.
Number of students who receive assistance with job placement.

Community Anchor Institutions Implementation Strategies

Objective: Establishing CAIs

Key Activities:

Identify at least 5 suitable locations for the establishment of CAIs.
Acquire all necessary infrastructure, equipment, and personnel to ensure the functionality of the technology centers.
Develop a standardized curriculum for technology centers that aligns with the needs of the local community.

KPIs:

Number of suitable locations identified for the establishment of CAIs.
Percentage of required infrastructure, equipment, and personnel acquired.
Feedback from the local community on the standardized curriculum developed for the technology centers.

Inter-Agency Coordination Implementation Strategies

Objective: Enhance and support emergency response and preparedness for vulnerable populations such as individuals with disabilities and language barriers.

Key Activities:

Enhance emergency response and preparedness.
Ensure that critical emergency information and resources are accessible to all residents.
Prioritize assistance and support for vulnerable populations.
Proactively engage with vulnerable populations, including the community and local agencies, offering targeted training, awareness campaigns, and support services.

KPIs:

Number of individuals with disabilities and language barriers who voluntarily register on the website supportcnmi.com.
Percentage of emergency responders and CERT teams who use the voluntary registry to prioritize assistance and support for vulnerable populations during crisis situations.
Percentage of at-risk populations who are identified through the mapping system and receive targeted training, awareness campaigns, and support services.
Number of mobile applications or collaborations with existing websites developed to promote public awareness and engagement in emergency preparedness efforts.
Number of emergency situations where critical emergency information and resources were accessible to all residents, regardless of their background or abilities.

Send your Feedback to the Commonwealth

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Broadband Policy and Development Office is seeking public comment on its draft Digital Equity Plan until April 6, 2024. Comments can be submitted using the public comment form or via email at cnmi.bpd@gmail.com.

Quick Bits

Weekend Reads (resist tl;dr)

ICYMI from Benton

Upcoming Events

Apr 4––Consumer Advisory Committee Meeting (FCC)

Apr 9––Broadband Equity is Local (Community Broadband Action Network)

Apr 17––2024 Bipartisan Tech Policy Conference (Next Century Cities)

Apr 25––April 2024 Open Federal Communications Commission Meeting (FCC)

May 23––May 2024 Open Federal Communications Commission Meeting (FCC)

Jun 6-7––2024 Conference on Artificial Intelligence & Financial Stability (US Dept of Treasury)

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Kevin Taglang
Executive Editor, Communications-related Headlines
Benton Institute
for Broadband & Society
1041 Ridge Rd, Unit 214
Wilmette, IL 60091
847-220-4531
headlines AT benton DOT org

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State Profiles

Broadband Provisions in the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024

benton — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 22:15:28 +0000

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Digital Beat

Broadband Provisions in the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024

On Saturday, March 23, 2024, President Joe Biden signed into law the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (H.R. 2882), legislation that provides funding through September 30, 2024, for projects and activities of departments and agencies of the Federal Government. H.R. 2882 completes the appropriations process for fiscal year 2024 (FY2024). Earlier in March, President Biden signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (H.R. 4366). As we reported earlier, H.R. 4366 provided some direct spending on broadband. The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 is much lighter on broadband; this quick synopsis is a companion to our earlier reporting.

Of note, Congress is explicit in this law that none of the funds provided in this law shall be available through a reprogramming of funds that:

creates a new program;
eliminates a program, project, or activity;
increases funds or personnel for any program, project, or activity for which funds have been denied or restricted by the Congress;
proposes to use funds directed for a specific activity by the Committee on Appropriations of either the House of Representatives or the Senate for a different purpose;
augments existing programs, projects, or activities in excess of $5,000,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less;
reduces existing programs, projects, or activities by $5,000,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less; or
creates or reorganizes offices, programs, or activities unless prior approval is received from the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

In fact, prior to any significant reorganization, restructuring, relocation, or closing of offices, programs, or activities, each agency funded in this law must consult with the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate. By the end of May 2024, each agency must send those committees a report to establish the baseline for application of reprogramming and transfer authorities for the current fiscal year.

FCC Budget

Congress appropriates $390,192,000 for Federal Communications Commission operations in FY2024, a figure that will be reduced by how much the agency collects in regulatory fees. Not less than $12,131,000 of these funds will be for the FCC's Office of Inspector General. In March 2022, the FCC requested $390,192,000 in budget authority from regulatory fee offsetting collections. The request represented an increase of $16,192,000 or 4.3 percent from the FY 2022 level of $374,000,000.

H.R. 2882 rescinds $1.768 billion from the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF). In the American Rescue Plan Act, Congress established the ECF to help schools and libraries provide the tools and services their communities need for remote learning during the COVID-19 emergency period. With $7.171 billion, ECF has covered reasonable costs of laptop and tablet computers; Wi-Fi hotspots; modems; routers; and broadband connectivity purchases for off-campus use by students, school staff, and library patrons.

On March 20, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel proposed new 5G Fund rules.

None of these funds can be used by the FCC to modify, amend, or change its rules or regulations for universal service high-cost support for competitive eligible telecommunications carriers concerning the 5G Mobility Fund.

None of the funds made available may be used to maintain or establish a computer network unless such network blocks the viewing, downloading, and exchanging of pornography.

Congress includes an amendment to the Universal Service Antideficiency Temporary Suspension Act, extending it to December 31, 2024. The Antideficiency Act does not allow a federal agency or program—like the FCC's Universal Service Fund (USF) program—to make obligations in excess of available budgetary resources. In 2004, Congress passed a bill granting the Universal Service Fund a one-year exemption from the Antideficiency Act—and has extended the exemption as needed since. Absent this statutory exemption, the USF's funding commitment decision letters constitute obligations and the FCC would have to collect USF fees equaling those obligations before sending the letters.

FTC Budget

Congress appropriates $425,700,000 for Federal Trade Commission operations in FY2024, a figure that will be reduced by how much the agency collects in premerger notification filings.

Funding from this law may not be used by the FTC to complete the draft report entitled ‘‘Interagency Working Group on Food Marketed to Children: Preliminary Proposed Nutrition Principles to Guide Industry Self-Regulatory Efforts’’ unless the Interagency Working Group on Food Marketed to Children complies with Executive Order No. 13563 which aims to improve regulation and regulatory review.

Digitizing Government Services

H.R. 2882 rescinds $10 million in unobligated funds from the United States Digital Service. In the American Rescue Plan Act, Congress appropriated $200 million for the U.S. Digital Service which collaborates with public servants throughout the government to address some of the most critical needs and ultimately deliver a better government experience to people. The U.S. Digital Service works across multiple agencies and brings best practices from our various disciplines—including engineering, product, design, procurement, data science, operations, talent, and communications.

The American Rescue Plan Act set aside $1 billion for the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) housed at the General Services Administration. H.R. 2882 rescinds $100 million in unobligated funds. The TMF invests in the most promising cybersecurity, data protection, interoperability, legacy system upgrades, and digital experience projects. TMF helps implement information technology (IT) solutions across the government that improve agency processes and systems, use taxpayer dollars more efficiently, and deliver simple, seamless, and secure experiences to the American public.

H.R. 2882 appropriates $29 million for the Federal Citizen Services Fund which combines public-facing services and agency-facing programs that, together, drive governmentwide digital transformation. The programs funded by the FCSF offer shared digital services across the Federal enterprise, promote the adoption of the processes and systems that foster innovation, and support Federal agencies in increasing their own capacity to drive digital transformation on behalf of the public. The Administrator of General Services, with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, will supply Congress with a detailed spending plan for these funds in June 2024. The plan will include:

the amounts currently in the funds and the estimate of amounts to be transferred or reimbursed in fiscal year 2024;
a detailed breakdown of the purposes for all funds estimated to be transferred or reimbursed pursuant to this section (including the total number of personnel and costs for all staff whose salaries are provided for by this section); and
where applicable, a description of the funds intended for use by or for the implementation of specific laws passed by Congress.

Cybersecurity

As part of appropriations for U.S. Department of Homeland Security, H.R. 2882 provides $2.873 billion for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which is the operational lead for federal cybersecurity and the national coordinator for critical infrastructure security and resilience. The appropriation is $34.1 million below the FY23 enacted level and $183.3 million below the President’s Budget Request. Congress set aside:

$823.1 million for the operation and modernization of cyber defense technology and tools.
$819.3 million for cyber operations, including vulnerability management and threat hunting.
$130.2 million for operations, testing, and improvements to emergency communications.

Kids and Media

The funding package also includes $15 million for implementation of the Children and Media Research Advancement (CAMRA) Act which authorized the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to lead a research program on technology and media’s effects on infants, children, and adolescents in core areas of cognitive, physical, and socio-emotional development. NIH will examine the impact of exposure to and use of media and technologies such as mobile devices, computers, social media, online applications, websites, television, motion pictures, artificial intelligence, video games, and virtual and augmented reality.

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Kevin Taglang
Executive Editor, Communications-related Headlines
Benton Institute
for Broadband & Society
1041 Ridge Rd, Unit 214
Wilmette, IL 60091
847-220-4531
headlines AT benton DOT org

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Updated ACP Enrollment Performance Tool Includes ACP Risk Score

benton — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 11:00:27 +0000

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Digital Beat

Updated ACP Enrollment Performance Tool Includes ACP Risk Score

Horrigan

Today we are releasing our latest version of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Enrollment Performance Tool, which updates data through February 2024. We introduce a new feature in this version—the ACP Risk Score for each zip code included in the tool. This score indicates the degree to which households in a given zip code are at risk of losing or reducing internet connectivity should the ACP benefit lapse. A high score (on a scale of 0 to 100) is a sign that households in that zip code may be more likely to lose internet connectivity than households in areas with a lower score. If a zip code area has a risk score above 70, it stands a good chance of having its households face significant disruption from ACP's demise. Losing connectivity could mean giving up home internet service completely or choosing between having a wireline or wireless subscription plan.

As states and localities plan for Digital Equity Act funds and continue to focus on Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) investments, the disruption in home broadband subscription brought about by ACP’s end will be important to understand. The ACP Risk Score aims to provide a means to examine which areas are likely to be hardest hit.

In addition to the ACP Risk Score, the latest version of the ACP Enrollment Performance Tool has the same features as in prior iterations. The newly updated tool covers some 23.27 million enrolled ACP households, the total number of households signed up for ACP when enrollment stopped on February 7, 2024. The ACP Tool still places zip code areas into performance categories based on comparisons of actual ACP enrollment to predicted enrollment. The predictions come from a statistical model that uses American Community Survey data (updated in this latest release to 5-year 2018-2022 estimates) and other data to bring socio-economic data to bear on understanding ACP enrollment patterns.

The ACP Risk Score is built from several socio-economic variables in the tool’s statistical model that capture community-wide challenges eligible ACP households may face. The ACP Risk Score captures in zip code areas the share of households:

experiencing “rent burden,” (i.e., households paying more than 30% of their income for rent)
with foreign-born individuals
with unemployed individuals
whose annual incomes are $15,000 or less
that have moved in the past year.

These metrics, collectively, are strong predictors of ACP enrollment. For instance, the ACP statistical model shows a positive link between areas with high “rent burden” and ACP enrollment. This makes sense, in that low-income households with high housing costs are likely to embrace a subsidy that offers some relief from the cost of a household necessity such as broadband service. Once that subsidy goes away, many of these households may face a choice of whether to keep service—a choice made more difficult if a rent-burdened household has other risk factors (e.g., unemployment). The ACP Risk Score combines the risk factors noted above into a single number for users.

Think of these metrics in the ACP Risk Score as measures of the social and economic headwinds households faced as they made the choice to subscribe to ACP. These headwinds will persist if ACP goes away—and communities with the greatest challenges may suffer most in terms of the percentage of people who lose home internet connectivity.

John B. Horrigan is a Benton Senior Fellow and a national expert on technology adoption, digital inclusion, and evaluating the outcomes and impacts of programs designed to promote communications technology adoption and use.

See These ACP Resources

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Kevin Taglang
Executive Editor, Communications-related Headlines
Benton Institute
for Broadband & Society
1041 Ridge Rd, Unit 214
Wilmette, IL 60091
847-220-4531
headlines AT benton DOT org

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Emergency Broadband Benefit/Emergency Connectivity Fund

Guam's Journey to Digital Inafa'maolek

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 22:30:00 +0000

Friday, March 22, 2024

Weekly Digest

Guam's Journey to Digital Inafa'maolek

Round-Up for the Week of March 18-22, 2024

Tepper

Guam's Office of Infrastructure Policy and Development (OIPD) has released its draft Digital Equity Plan. In the vastness of the Pacific Ocean, the island of Guam, an unincorporated territory of the United States, emerges as a testament to resilience, unity, and evolution. Its history is a rich tapestry of cultures, forged by the perseverance of its indigenous people and the influences of various settlers and conquerors throughout the millennia. The journey of Guam has been one of transformation. The essence of the island remains in the spirit of Inafa’maolek, a concept of the indigenous CHamoru people of restoring harmony and balance, promoting mutual respect and working collaboratively for the common good. In Inafa'maolek lies Guam's vision for digital equity.

Guam's Vision For Digital Equity

In crafting its Vision for Digital Equity, Guam envisions a future where every individual, from each of the covered populations, enjoys equal access to the opportunities and benefits of the digital world. Guam's vision is rooted in inclusion, fairness, and empowerment. It encompasses a commitment to serve individuals living in low-income households, veterans, incarcerated individuals, individuals with a language barrier, aging individuals, individuals who belong to a racial or ethnic minority, individuals with a disability, and individuals living in rural areas. Guam wants to ensure that no one is left behind.

In Guam, every person, irrespective of their background, resources, circumstances, identity, or community, will enjoy equitable access to the digital world. This includes:

access to affordable and reliable internet at home
access to affordable devices that cater to their needs
opportunities for digital literacy and technical support
resources and knowledge to ensure online safety for themselves and their families
online local government resources that are inclusive and accessible to all.

Guaranteeing access empowers the people and communities of Guam to connect both locally and globally. This will open doors to the full spectrum of economic, educational, health, social, civic, and cultural advantages of digital inclusion.

Guam's focus on securing access, affordability, and widespread adoption underscores a fundamental belief: There is room in Guam's economy and community for everyone to succeed.

To achieve these objectives, Guam will adhere to the following principles:

Pursue a data-driven, informed and transparent methodology. OIPD will embrace a digital equity perspective in infrastructure projects and other initiatives, prioritizing investments that have the most significant impact. OIPD will also continue to gather and share data with its partners to refine its objectives and strategies.
Enhance and bolster the existing support networks within Guam's communities. OIPD will foster partnerships, mutual learning, and collaborative efforts; augment capacity; and supply the necessary tools and frameworks to aid in connecting individuals. OIPD will target efforts towards reaching those who are most in need through a strategy that is both location and community-focused.
Capitalize on building relationships for opportunity. OIPD will prioritize digital equity investments and collaborations that build on existing relationships or are spearheaded by individuals and communities facing greater challenges in accessing and adopting digital technologies.

To accomplish these goals, Guam will:

Foster innovation. It will encourage and learn from diverse strategies across different areas and communities, acknowledging that the path to digital inclusion varies and that each covered population has unique needs.
Amplify its message. It will share a wide array of stories through various mediums to highlight the real effects of the digital divide on individuals and communities, the endeavors towards digital inclusion, and the transformative impact of achieving digital equity via access and adoption.

Covered Populations and Barriers to Digital Equity

As of 2023, approximately 85 percent of the occupied households in Guam have adopted home broadband services. This number compares to the national average of 90.1 percent indicating a gap in home broadband adoption rates.

Guam's draft Digital Equity Plan breaks down its barriers by the different covered populations.

Disabled Individuals

Achieving digital equity for Guam's disabled population means understanding and addressing the specific needs and challenges they face in accessing and benefiting from digital resources. Some of the fundamental needs of Guam's disabled population in the pursuit of digital equity include (but are not limited to):

Accessible Internet Infrastructure: Reliable and affordable high-speed internet coverage throughout the island. Some disabled individuals might have limited mobility and the ability to access online services is crucial to their well-being.
Affordable Assistive Technologies: Devices like screen readers, speech recognition tools, braille e-readers, and other specialized hardware and software can be expensive. Making these assistive technologies more affordable or available through subsidies is critical.
Customized Devices: Making readily available devices that are adapted to specific disabilities, such as computers that can be operated through eye movement, specialized keyboards, or tablets with large icons and text for those with visual impairments.
Training and Education: Programs tailored to teach digital literacy skills to the disabled. These programs need to take into account different disabilities and offer personalized training. Educators and trainers equipped with the knowledge and tools to teach digital skills to disabled students.
Content Accessibility: Websites, applications, and digital content adhering to accessibility guidelines, ensuring they're navigable by screen readers, have alternative text for images, etc. Availability of content in multiple formats, such as text, audio, and video, to cater to different needs.
Support Services: Technical support and helplines equipped to assist disabled users in navigating digital challenges. Online services like counseling, therapy, or medical consultations optimized for disabled individuals.

Incarcerated Individuals

To comprehensively address the digital needs of incarcerated individuals in Guam, OIPD embarked on multiple stakeholder consultations. Collaborations encompassed the Department of Youth Affairs, the Department of Corrections (DOC), Guam Superior Court, Guam Supreme Court, Guam Department of Education, and Guam Legal Services, among others. The imperative is clear: a multi-pronged strategy is essential to address the challenges faced by Guam's incarcerated individuals.

Opportunities identified include:

Telehealth Services: Ensuring incarcerated individuals have access to critical health services.
Essential Services Access: Including access to social and welfare services.
Employment Re-entry Programs: Facilitating their transition back into the community.
Education: Ensuring continuity in their learning and development.
Civic and Social Engagement: Granting them opportunities to stay informed and connected.

Veterans

Guam's veterans, like many other veterans globally, have distinct needs arising from their experiences in service and the specific socioeconomic challenges they face post-service. When discussing digital equity for Guam's veterans, several focal points emerge that must be addressed to ensure they can effectively and confidently navigate the digital landscape.

These focal points include:

Access to Reliable Internet: Many veterans may reside in areas with limited or no high-speed internet access. Ensuring widespread, high-speed, and reliable connectivity is a foundational step toward achieving digital equity.
Digital Literacy Training: Some veterans, especially older ones, may not be as familiar with modern digital tools, platforms, or technologies. Customized digital literacy programs can bridge this gap, empowering them to utilize digital resources confidently.
Adaptive Technologies: Veterans with disabilities may require assistive technologies like screen readers, voice-activated systems, or specially designed hardware to access digital content effectively.
Telehealth Services: For those veterans who may have mobility issues or reside in remote areas, telehealth can be a helpful tool. It offers them access to medical consultations, mental health support, and other health services without the need for physical travel. Medical wearable devices can help track their health and alert medical professionals when attention is required.
Online Employment and Training Opportunities: Digital platforms that provide job training, skill development, and employment opportunities can be invaluable for veterans transitioning to civilian roles or looking for new career paths.
Mental Health Resources: Digital platforms offering counseling, mental health resources, and support groups can assist veterans, especially those dealing with PTSD or other service-related traumas.

Individuals who Belong to a Racial or Ethnic Minority

Guam is populated by various racial and ethnic groups, each possessing its own unique set of challenges and needs. In the pursuit of digital equity for Guam's racial and ethnic minorities, it's crucial to recognize and address these specific concerns. Here are some of the unique needs of these communities:

Linguistic Accessibility: Different communities have distinct languages and dialects. To ensure digital equity, platforms and digital tools must offer content in multiple languages, or at the very least, provide translation options.
Local Content: Empowering communities to create and share their own content can ensure a richer, more diverse digital landscape. Training and resources should be provided to promote local content creation that resonates with specific ethnic groups.
Community-Centric Training: Digital literacy training programs tailored to the nuances of each community can be more effective. Such programs should consider cultural practices, prevalent occupations, and specific community needs.
Affordability: Economic disparities among racial or ethnic groups might hinder their access to digital devices and services. Initiatives to provide affordable or subsidized devices and internet access are crucial.
Geographical Accessibility: Certain minority groups may reside in areas with limited digital infrastructure. Efforts must be made to extend reliable and high-speed internet connectivity to these areas.
Representation: Members of racial and ethnic minorities should be actively involved in decision-making processes related to digital initiatives. Their inclusion ensures that strategies and implementations genuinely reflect community needs.

Individuals Living in Rural Areas

Under specific federal programs and guidelines, every resident of Guam is considered to be a "rural resident." This categorization is not based on the traditional understanding of 'rural', which often denotes sparse population, vast open spaces, or agricultural landscapes. Instead, it's a product of federal policies designed to address the unique needs and challenges of the island.

This designation has significant implications for Guam. For one, it affects the flow of federal funds, ensuring that the island can access resources earmarked for rural development. These funds play a pivotal role in bolstering essential services, infrastructure, and initiatives, tailored to meet the unique needs of Guam's residents.

Individuals Who Live in Covered Households

Through OIPD’s outreach, Guam has found that barriers to digital equity among this population include financial constraints, lack of access to technology, and limited digital literacy. Creating a digital equity implementation strategy for individuals living in covered households (i.e., households under certain social or economic thresholds) in Guam involves a comprehensive approach focusing on outcomes that enhance digital inclusion and literacy.

Aging Individuals

Creating a digital equity implementation strategy specifically tailored for aging individuals in Guam involves addressing unique challenges and barriers that this demographic faces in the digital world.

Through discussions with members of this community, their families, and the organizations that serve them, OIPD has found that there is a great need for digital navigator programs to allow seniors to fully unlock the potential of the internet and all it has to offer in terms of healthcare, education, social activities, familial connections, and more, as well as cybersecurity and online personal safety training to keep them safe from predators that seek to take advantage of the island’s seniors. Some of Guam's seniors would benefit from one-on-one training outside of a group setting because they may experience embarrassment for not knowing how to use some forms of technology.

Reaching Guam’s seniors involves a holistic approach that addresses key areas such as affordability, access to age-appropriate devices, digital literacy training tailored for older adults, and technical support.

Implementation Strategy and Objectives

The following are some of Guam’s overarching strategies for driving toward the island's vision for digital equity.

1. Increase Broadband Availability & Affordability

Increase broadband coverage to reach 98 percent of households and businesses across Guam by 2029. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, 85.9 percent of households currently have a broadband internet subscription.

Key Activities

Through public-private partnerships, provide basic, free wireless broadband to all members of covered populations on the island.
Through the BEAD program, promote the availability of low-cost internet service subscriptions and middle-class affordability options and other reduced cost internet subscription plans offered by local carriers.
Using community anchor institutions, develop a network of free Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the island.
Continue to promote the use of the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) or its replacement.
Stand up a local subsidy program to defray the cost of broadband plans for the nearly 30,000 people or 20.2% of the population in households on Guam with incomes below the poverty level
Increase the number of homes that have consistent and reliable Wi-Fi access to enable the seamless use of wearable medical devices and other new technologies which are needed for the aging population, veterans, disabled people, and members of every other covered population.
Improve the ability of doctors to perform remote patient monitoring and check-ups by increasing the number of homes that have consistent and reliable Wi-Fi access.

Key Performance Indicators

Percentage increase in broadband coverage.
The average cost reduction of broadband plans is currently at $112.17 per month not including routers or other fees.
- Short-term goal: $75 per month for the average household.
- Long-term goal: $30 per month or less for the average household.
Percentage increase in households with broadband internet access.
- Work with local carriers to determine increases in subscription numbers after BEAD infrastructure buildout.
Successful implementation of a network of free Wi-Fi hotspots at community anchor institutions.
- Short-term: 5 CAI hotspots by the end of 2024.
- Long-term: All CAIs by the end of 2029.
Successful implementation of free island-wide Wi-Fi using public-private partnerships.
Increase in the availability of remote patient monitoring and wearable medical devices.

2. Online Accessibility & Inclusivity

Key Activities

Ensure all public facilities, including schools, libraries, and government buildings, are equipped with accessible internet facilities. These facilities are currently without accessible internet tools and equipment with the exception of two ADA-compliant workstations at the Hagåtña library location.
Develop and implement web accessibility guidelines to ensure online services are usable by people with disabilities.
Use workforce development programs to provide training and support for web developers and content creators to produce accessible digital content.
Ensure that English learners are provided with translation services/materials needed to utilize online services.

Key Performance Indicators

Increase in the number of public facilities with internet accessibility to include the adoption of accessible programs, platforms, and software.
- Short-term goal: Double the access at the Guam Public Library from 2 to 4 workstations by the end of 2024.
- Long-term goal: Accessibility in all government of Guam public facilities by the end of 2029.
Percentage increase in accessible online services.
Increase in the number of individuals trained in creating accessible digital content.

3. Digital Literacy

Key Activities

Launch digital literacy programs targeting various covered populations with a focus on seniors, underserved, disabled, minority, rural residents, and incarcerated communities. Bring programs to these covered populations where they gather at senior centers, cultural facilities, Mayor’s offices, public housing institutions, and other places.
- No digital literacy programs currently exist on the island as OIPD envisions them. At least one of Guam’s carriers offers online privacy training to senior citizens several times a year.
Increase the portion of covered populations equipped with basic digital skills.
Collaborate with educational institutions to integrate digital literacy curriculum in schools, starting from the primary level onwards with a focus on people living below the poverty level and in rural areas, minorities, and English learners.
Collaborate with the Department of Corrections and Department of Youth Affairs to initiate digital navigator programs that focus on allowing incarcerated individuals to obtain access to educational and social resources needed for successful reintegration into society.
Establish evening/weekend classes for aging persons, adult English learners, veterans, minorities, disabled, disadvantaged, and rural persons at community centers, public housing centers, and libraries to teach basic to advanced internet skills.
Work with local educational institutions to develop online tutorials and modules accessible to all members of the covered populations, allowing them to learn at their own pace.

Key Performance Indicators

The number of digital literacy programs launched that cater to members of the covered populations.
- Short-term goal: Digital literacy programs in 3 government facilities by mid-2025.
- Long-term goal: Digital literacy programs in all senior centers, libraries, public housing, Department of Corrections and Department of Youth Affairs by the end of 2027.
Integration level of digital literacy into educational institutions.
Number of incarcerated adults and youth who participate in digital skills learning programs.
Percentage increase in the covered populations with basic to advanced digital skills based on the number of participants who have successfully completed digital literacy courses.
Number of persons from covered populations who have completed online tutorials.

4. Cybersecurity and Online Privacy Enhancement Goals

Key Activities

Ensure all government websites and digital platforms adhere to top-tier security and privacy standards. Some government websites currently do not have these tools in place.
Work with the Office of Technology, Department of Homeland Security, and others to implement mandatory annual cybersecurity training for all government of Guam employees and contractors. There currently is no mandate for cybersecurity training.
Initiate a combined public awareness campaign by 2025, targeting members of the covered populations, educating them about the importance of cybersecurity and online privacy.
Launch cybersecurity awareness campaign.
Incorporate online privacy education into the standardized cybersecurity curriculum for all educational institutions in Guam by 2027. There is currently no standardized cybersecurity curriculum in schools.

Key Performance Indicators

Increase in the number of government websites that adhere to top-tier security and privacy standards.
Successful implementation of annual cybersecurity training for government of Guam employees and contractors by 2025.
Increase in the awareness of cybersecurity and privacy tools available among the covered populations. Percentage of the population covered by the combined awareness campaign.
The number of professionals trained in combined cybersecurity and online privacy programs.
Participation counts in annual cybersecurity and privacy workshops and conferences.
Online privacy education standardized cybersecurity curriculum available in all educational institutions.

5. Device Availability & Affordability

Key Activities

Establish technology lending programs in libraries, village community centers, and other community anchor institutions, providing access to devices for those who can't afford them. Currently, no CAIs have device lending programs.
Establish a process to collect and disseminate refurbished computers that are more than 5 years old but are in good working condition to non-profit and community organizations. Those organizations would be expected to distribute the computer devices to those most in need from the various covered populations. This process currently does not exist.

Key Performance Indicators

The number of community anchor institutions lending devices to members of covered populations.
Increase in the percentage of low-income and other covered households with at least one internet-enabled device. According to the 2020 US Census, in Guam, 95 percent of households owned a computer and 85 percent had a broadband internet subscription.
Availability and uptake of refurbished/discounted/free devices.

6. Maximizing Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Participation (or its replacement program):

Key Activities

Implement a comprehensive outreach campaign to inform eligible individuals and households about the Affordable Connectivity Program, highlighting its benefits and application process.
Streamline and simplify the application process by collaborating with federal partners (SNAP, free lunch program, etc.) to automatically enroll eligible participants.
Partner with relevant agencies (Public Health, GHURA, Guam Housing, Guam Department of Labor, etc.) to include ACP program information during the onboarding process for various programs.
Simplify the application process by providing multiple options for submission, including online, phone, and in-person assistance at community centers, Mayor’s offices, and other government offices.
Collaborate with local community organizations, schools, and businesses to raise awareness and facilitate application assistance events.
Track and report the number of eligible applicants who successfully enroll in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Key Performance Indicators

Reach and engagement metrics of the outreach campaign.
Percentage increase in the number of applications submitted compared to the previous period.
Number of successful enrollments in the Affordable Connectivity Program. Currently, 1,276 eligible Guam residents enrolled in the program.
- Short-term goal: Increase participation by 20 percent by the end of 2026.
- Long-term goal: Increase participation by 100 percent or more by 2026.

Guam Wants to Hear From You

Public comments on Guam's draft Digital Equity Plan can be submitted here or by email at broadband@guam.gov until March 31, 2024. For more information on digital equity in Guam, visit the Office of Infrastructure Policy and Development website.

Quick Bits

Weekend Reads (resist tl;dr)

ICYMI from Benton

Upcoming Events

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Apr 4––Consumer Advisory Committee Meeting (FCC)

Apr 9––Broadband Equity is Local (Community Broadband Action Network)

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Apr 25––April 2024 Open Federal Communications Commission Meeting (FCC)

May 23––May 2024 Open Federal Communications Commission Meeting (FCC)

Jun 6-7––2024 Conference on Artificial Intelligence & Financial Stability (US Dept of Treasury)

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Kevin Taglang
Executive Editor, Communications-related Headlines
Benton Institute
for Broadband & Society
1041 Ridge Rd, Unit 214
Wilmette, IL 60091
847-220-4531
headlines AT benton DOT org

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Broadband Delivers Opportunities and Strengthens Communities

Series:

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

State Profiles

Broadband Provisions in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024

benton — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 18:00:44 +0000

Friday, March 15, 2024

Digital Beat

Broadband Provisions in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024

On March 9, 2024, President Joe Biden signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (H.R. 4366) legislation that funds, through September 30, departments and agencies of the Federal Government covered by six appropriations bills. Here we look at broadband-related funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

USDA Broadband Programs

Through H.R. 4366's Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, Congress provides the USDA a total discretionary allocation of $26.228 billion, which is $2.67 billion (9%) below the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Budget Request. The legislation prioritizes USDA agencies and programs that protect the U.S. food and drug supply; supports America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities; and ensures low-income Americans have access to nutrition programs. The law also appropriates additional federal spending to support three USDA broadband programs: 1) the ReConnect Loan and Grant Program, 2) the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants Program, and 3) the Community Connect Program.

ReConnect

For FY24, Congress sets aside $100,385,000 for the ReConnect Loan and Grant Program which furnishes loans and grants to provide funds for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas. In 2022, Congress appropriated over $363 million for ReConnect. As in the last funding round, Congress has earmarked some projects for funding, this year totaling $10.385 million.

Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA-3) helped secure $4,224,000 for the Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Co-Op to construct middle- and last-mile fiber optic networks to rural residents in the A-15 and Valley Ranch areas. This project will be providing reliable, high-speed broadband services to rural residents, enabling access to online education, telemedicine, remote work, and supporting local economic development, while also enhancing emergency personnel communications capabilities.
For Le Sueur County (MN), Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN-2) and Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Trina Smith (D-MN) helped win a $1 million award for the construction cost-share of broadband projects with internet service providers. The project will help support this disconnected, rural community by laying the groundwork for county-wide broadband connection, spurring economic development.
With the help of Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT), a $150,000 Reconnect award will go to Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, a consolidated county-city government that currently has no access to broadband infrastructure. The funding will go towards the installation of dedicated fiber infrastructure connecting nine county government sites.
At the request of Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC-11), USDA will award $1 million for broadband expansion in Haywood County, NC.
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1) and Sens Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) helped secure $1 million for Three Rivers Fiber Broadband in Tillamook County. The funding will help build 7.24 miles of middle-mile fiber optic broadband infrastructure to expand access to 332 homes, supporting connectivity, cell towers, and public safety communications efforts for what is a cellular dead zone.
Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-OR-6) requested $1 million to expand broadband internet in Sherwood. OR to improve economic development, health care, and education access in the area. The City of Sherwood has been working with Salinas’ office to help secure funding to help construct roughly 40 miles of fiber cable that would pass through 10 rural communities including portions of Sherwood. For almost two decades, the city has operated a municipal internet service provider Sherwood Broadband.
Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA-9) requested $1 million for PA's Central Bradford County Economic Development Authority.
Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) requested $286,000 for the Eastern Shore of Virginia Broadband Authority (ESVBA) Broadband Expansion Project. ESVBA will build approximately 10.1 miles of fiber across several challenging areas to serve the residents of Custis Neck, Folly Creek Club, Henrys Point and Locustville. This funding will provide these rural communities with much-needed wireless and connectivity services and upgrades.
Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-4) requested $725,000 for the Henrico County Universal Broadband Deployment Project to extend fiber-to-the-home infrastructure to 412 serviceable units.

ReConnect awards must focus on areas where at least 90 percent of the households lack access to networks that can offer internet access with speeds of at least 25 megabits per second (Mbps) downstream and 3 Mbps upstream. The networks built with ReConnect awards must be capable of providing service at speeds of at least 100 Mbps downstream and 20 Mbps upstream. Awards cannot be used in areas of previous USDA broadband loans unless the previous grantee is not providing 25/3 service.

Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants

USDA's Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants Program helps rural residents tap into the enormous potential of the internet to improve education and health care, two of the most crucial keys to successful rural economic and community development. In the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023—signed by President Biden in December 2022—Congress set aside nearly $65 million for telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas. For the remaining months of the fiscal year, Congress has appropriated roughly $49.6 million of which about $9.6 million is earmarked by specific Members of Congress.

The University of Arkansas Medical Sciences (UAMS) Digital Interventions for Care and Education telemedicine mental health program will receive $1 million with the help of Sen. John Boozman (R-AR).
The Loma Linda University Medical Center will receive $434,000 for the Expanding Healthcare Access to the High Desert and Rural Communities of San Bernardino County project. According to Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23), the funds will be used for the placement of three telehealth sites throughout the region.
Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO-06)—with Sens Michael (D-CO) Bennet and John Hickenlooper (D-CO)—helped secure nearly $403,000 for the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center’s Rural eConsult Expansion. The funds will expand the eConsult program to additional Federally Qualified Health Centers in rural Colorado, giving health providers the ability to conduct online consultations with specialists and helping patients receive timely, effective treatment.
The GROW Institute Rural Upskilling Through Distance Learning project will receive $300,000 due to Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-7). The Colorado State University System will use the funding to provide rural upskilling efforts in Custer and Fremont Counties and that will help support job growth and economic development.
Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA-01) teamed with Sens Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) to secure $213,000 for the Greater Valdosta United Way's 2-1-1 Service, the area's most comprehensive source of information about local resources and services.
Sen Dick Durbin (D-IL) helped secure $750,000 for OSF HealthCare, a not-for-profit Catholic healthcare organization, to expand a rural telemedicine program to underserved rural areas in Champaign, Vermillion, and Douglas Counties.
Central Michigan University will be awarded $500,000 to expand health care job training in Bay, Isabella, Midland and Saginaw counties, with a focus on training students in rural communities thanks to Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI-08).
With help from Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), the Mississippi Rural Health Association will receive $731,000 to carry out distance learning and telemedicine activities to improve the rural healthcare workforce.
Rep Tom Kean, Jr. (R-NJ-07) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) secured $127,000 for Abilities Incredible People Training Project by Abilities of Northwest Jersey. The funding will increase training and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities through classroom and distance learning. The project will provide distance learning focusing on soft skills and provide professional growth and pre-employment services. Moreover, it provides funds for training and support to instructors to enhance students’ success in coding, technology, and website development and testing.
Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) helped win $113,000 for the Grant County CyberMill Expansion project in John Day to support more equitable internet access for rural Oregonians. The federal funding will be used for distance learning, telemedicine, and broadband equipment and technology.
Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA-14) requested $680,000 for the Waynesburg Workforce Development Program.
South Carolina State University's Rural Telehealth Initiative will receive $1 million in support due to Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC-6).
Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-4) requested $1 million for distance learning equipment for Motlow State Community College.
Although Rep. Keith Self (R-TX-3) voted against the Consolidated Appropriations Act, he secured $1.75 million for Texas A&M University-Commerce's mental health initiatives through the legislation.
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX-10) requested nearly $403,000 for distance learning equipment for Austin Community College District's Elgin Campus.
Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX-11) requested $170,000 for Texas A&M Health Science Center's Telehealth readiness Project.

Congress directs USDA to allocate at least ten percent of Distance Learning and Telemedicine funding to persistent poverty counties.¹

Community Connect Grant Program

USDA's Community Connect program provides financial assistance to eligible applicants that will provide broadband service in rural, economically-challenged communities where service does not exist. H.R. 4366 allocates $20 million for Community Connect in FY24—down from $35 million in FY23.

NTIA's Budget

In March 2023, NTIA requested $117.3 million for FY24. Instead, Congress appropriates $57 million to NTIA through September 30, 2025. The funding comes with the following strings:

NTIA will charge other Federal agencies for costs incurred in spectrum management, analysis, operations, and related services.
All funds collected from other Federal agencies for telecommunications research will be used to support NTIA's Institute for Telecommunication Sciences.

Congress also appropriates $2 million for maintenance and repair of NTIA facilities.

This legislation also sets aside $337.4 million in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for NTIA salaries, expenses, administration, and oversight for (IIJA) broadband programs as well as the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot and the Broadband Infrastructure Program.

A Final Word About Veterans

The new law also directs the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) to continue to expand telehealth availability, including the facilitation of public-private partnerships, to include additional mental health, primary care, and rehabilitation services as a means to deliver care in rural and underserved communities.

Congress encourages the VA to leverage newly gained telehealth capacity to address backlogs for disability exams and healthcare appointments when appropriate. And Congress further directs the VA to continue to implement plans to improve veteran and provider satisfaction, increase awareness of its telehealth program, and enhance adoption of telehealth by veterans and providers.

To meet the growing demand for telehealth or virtual mental healthcare, Congress encourages the VA to provide veterans access to virtual cognitive behavioral therapy—and to provide a report, not later than June 4, on the status of efforts to utilize solutions and partners in the delivery of mental health services virtually and how to make these solutions more accessible to patients.

Congress commends the efforts of private organizations to support veterans and recognizes that they can sometimes provide services, such as counseling and wellness programs, for the families of veterans that the VA cannot. Recognizing that Congress, the VA, and private organizations share the same goal of supporting veterans, Congress directs the VA to build upon its existing partnerships and seek opportunities to establish new ones and provides up to $5 million for this purpose. Congress is specifically interested in partnerships focused on providing mental health care, including the mental health of veterans’ families, and requests a report on the VA's current partnership activities also by June 4. The report will identify types of partnerships and their best practices and the opportunities, barriers, and cost of expanding them. The report will also include an analysis of potential and innovative options to simplify the process for veterans seeking mental health care, such as through modifications to referral requirements, technologies to ease scheduling, and the use of telemedicine.

Notes:

(1) Any county that has had 20 percent or more of its population living in poverty over the past 30 years.

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Kevin Taglang
Executive Editor, Communications-related Headlines
Benton Institute
for Broadband & Society
1041 Ridge Rd, Unit 214
Wilmette, IL 60091
847-220-4531
headlines AT benton DOT org

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Broadband Delivers Opportunities and Strengthens Communities

The Affordable Connectivity Program Creates $16.2 Billion in Annual Benefits to Subscribers

benton — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 17:40:13 +0000

Friday, March 15, 2024

Digital Beat

The Affordable Connectivity Program Creates $16.2 Billion in Annual Benefits to Subscribers

New analysis finds benefits of consistent internet access far outweigh ACP’s costs by nearly 2 to 1

Horrigan

Created by Congress in 2020 and renewed in 2021, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is helping 23.3 million households afford internet access. But funding for ACP؅—the largest, most successful internet affordability program in U.S. history—is set to expire on May 30, 2024. This week, President Joe Biden proposed short- and long-term funding solutions in his budget. And a House bill to provide funding through the end of 2024 had 180 cosponsors in the House of Representatives.

For anyone who may question the investment in affordable broadband, I’ve just completed an analysis of existing research that demonstrates that ACP creates $16.2 billion in annual benefits to users of the service subsidy, nearly twice the $8.4 billion it costs for the $30 monthly subsidy (which increases to $75 per month in Tribal lands and high-cost areas). In other words, every $1 of ACP service subsidy results in close to $2 in benefits.

The upshot is clear: ACP can have positive impacts on beneficiaries’ lives – benefits that are much greater than the program’s costs. As policymakers consider the ACP’s future, they should do so knowing that the program’s costs have positive and substantial payoffs.

How I Arrived at These Numbers

The proposition that high-speed internet connectivity is beneficial is, on its face, not controversial. For years, elected officials, advocates, and business leaders have touted the rewards that broadband can create for local economies, health care delivery, and more. A number of research studies bear this out, showing that investments in broadband infrastructure and growth in broadband adoption among consumers each have economic payoffs.

Looking at the specific impacts from broadband programs is a different matter. Relatively few studies have looked at results from broadband initiatives, and those tend to focus on the Comcast Internet Essentials (IE) program. A 2019 study by Rosston and Wallsten showed that broadband adoption in areas served by Comcast was higher than it otherwise would be (i.e., one could attribute observed increases in low-income broadband adoption in areas where the IE offer was available to the presence of the IE discount). Zuo (2021) traced the IE offer to increases in household income, finding a positive relationship between broadband adoption increases brought about by IE and the likelihood of being employed (and thus experiencing income growth).

In my analysis, I build on some of this research in an examination of the ACP. The analysis leverages the research of Zuo and Dolfen, whose separate research found positive economic impacts to having internet access from employment effects and using ecommerce to shop.¹ The “special sauce” in my analysis is a careful parsing of the population of ACP subscribers to assess impacts. Specifically:

How many are new to broadband because of ACP?
How many are more consistent subscribers because the program has prevented lapses in service subscription that are a fact of life for many low-income households?
And how should we think about benefits for these different groups?

The $16.2 billion in benefits for ACP households the analysis finds only touch on a portion of the potential upsides. A household with new or consistent broadband service has the opportunity to use telehealth applications. Telehealth can save service providers money in avoided office visits and patients the time and costs of traveling to appointments. These benefits can be substantial – but they are not captured in our analysis.

ACP is an indispensable part of the universal service policy toolkit. It furthers universal service values of connectivity and inclusiveness, and is doing so at a time in our nation’s history when communications services shape how citizens cope with social and economic change. Analysis of ACP’s impact thus far shows that this investment in connectivity is paying off handsomely.

Notes:

Dolfen, Paul, Liran Einav, Peter J. Klenow, Benjamin Klopack, Jonathan D. Levin, Larry Levin, and Wayne Best. 2023. "Assessing the Gains from E-Commerce." American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, 15 (1): 342-70.

For more, see The Affordable Connectivity Program Creates Benefits that Far Outweigh the Program's Costs

For subscribe/unsubscribe info, please email headlinesATbentonDOTorg

Kevin Taglang
Executive Editor, Communications-related Headlines
Benton Institute
for Broadband & Society
1041 Ridge Rd, Unit 214
Wilmette, IL 60091
847-220-4531
headlines AT benton DOT org

Share this edition:

Broadband Delivers Opportunities and Strengthens Communities

Series:

Emergency Broadband Benefit/Emergency Connectivity Fund

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act