GLOUCESTER
DIGITAL EQUITY PLAN
Website
December 2024
PRESENTATION TO CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA
DIGITAL EQUITY CONSULTING TEAM
Anagha Devanarayanan
Digital Equity Planner
Will Pfeffer
Civic Technologist
Stephen Larrick
Digital Manager
Alexa DeRosa
Data Analyst
Najee Nunnally
Community Engagement Specialist
Javier Gutierrez
Community Engagement Director
MAPC: 101 MUNICIPALITIES | 8 SUBREGIONS
BACKGROUND
December 2024
INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL EQUITY
MUNICIPAL DIGITAL EQUITY PLANNING PROGRAM
PLAN OVERVIEW
WHAT IS DIGITAL EQUITY?
Source & further reading + definitions: https://www.digitalinclusion.org/definitions/
MUNICIPAL DIGITAL EQUITY PLANNING PROGRAM
MASSACHUSETTS BROADBAND INSTITUTE (MBI)
MUNICIPAL DIGITAL EQUITY IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM
PLAN OVERVIEW
INTERNET SERVICE
Existing conditions and data analysis
Nov 2023 to Jan 2024
Community outreach and qualitative data analysis
Feb to May 2024
Synthesis and action plan development
June to Nov 2024
Plan document preparation and publication
Dec 2024 to Jan 2025
01
04
PLANNING PHASES
DEVICE ACCESS
DIGITAL LITERACY
DIGITAL EQUITY FRAMEWORK
02
03
KEY FINDINGS
December 2024
EXISTING CONDITIONS DATA ANALYSIS COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT
| | |
| | |
Housing + Digital Equity
Low-income residents of affordable housing experience lower levels of internet access and adoption. As of 2016, 46% of families living in public housing do not have high-speed Internet at home or rely solely on smartphones.
Economic Development + Digital Equity
Digital skills are required for 92% of job opportunities, and jobs that require more digital skills pay more than jobs that require fewer
Public Health + Digital Equity
Digital equity is a “super” social determinant of health, meaning it influences others such as healthcare, education, and employment.
Education + Digital Equity
Remote learning allows students to attend school, complete assignments, and experience educational programs from home. Teenagers with computers at home are 6-8% more likely to graduate high school than those without
Civic Participation + Digital Equity
Government permits and services are increasingly accessed online via program websites and online application forms.
Language access + Digital Equity
Language access ensures that digital content is accessible and usable by all, especially by individuals who are not native English speakers. Independent Internet access can help them feel more included into the community.
METHODS
EXISTING CONDITIONS METHODOLOGY
COMMUNITY OUTREACH & ENGAGEMENT
INTERNET SERVICE
Gloucester downtown has the highest percentage of households, 17% to 26%, who have no access to the internet.
Gloucester lacks competition in Internet service providers (ISPs). It is primarily served by only one service provider- Comcast.
RESIDENTS EXPERIENCE BARRIERS TO ACCESSING AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE, AND GOOD-QUALITY AT-HOME INTERNET IN GLOUCESTER
There are many divides that exist in Gloucester, but the digital divide is really great.
-Gloucester Housing Authority
Son keeps telling me to increase the speed of the internet, but I just don’t have the resources to do so.
-a Spanish-speaking resident via an interpreter
INTERNET SERVICE
DEVICE ACCESS
Percentage of households dependent on smartphones only for their device use is the highest in Gloucester.
Percentage of households with no computer is also the highest in Gloucester
Community | % of HH with no internet connection | % of HH with no computer | % population with only a smartphone | Total households |
Gloucester | 10.7% | 7.1% | 7.9% | 13,259 |
Rockport | 11% | 6.5% | 4.4% | 3,282 |
Ipswich | 6.2% | 4.5% | 1.1% | 5,610 |
Salem | 9.7% | 7.3% | 6.3% | 19,887 |
Essex county | 9.65% | 6.04% | 7% | 310,059 |
Source: American Community Survey 2018-22
RESIDENTS NEED ADEQUATE NUMBER & QUALITY OF DEVICES TO MEET DIVERSE NEEDS
I would like to go [to community locations ]. I am shy and my English is limited so I don’t go.
-a Spanish-speaking resident via an interpreter
Even folks who have just arrived are using smartphones and using them to communicate and to access resources, but that's not enough.
-Wellspring
DEVICE ACCESS
DIGITAL LITERACY
DIGITAL LITERACY IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE FOR MANY INDIVIDUALS TO ADVANCE INTO BETTER-PAYING JOBS AND ACCESS SERVICES THAT IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.
In my case, early on in life, I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. I’m able to learn something but in other areas- I struggle. It is not easy for me to deal with technology. My sister tells me to call her if I need anything (from Amazon, other).
-an older resident
It is a challenge to come into an environment that is unfamiliar and [that] is a deterrent from seeking services. Language barriers are a priority.
-Action Inc
RECOMMENDATIONS
December 2024
EXPAND INTERNET ACCESS
Pilot a publicly accessible outdoor Wi-Fi network downtown | Short-term |
Implement free public Wi-Fi access in subsidized and affordable housing sites | Short-term |
Raise awareness of free public Wi-Fi locations | Short-term |
Promote lower-cost plans for income-qualified residents | Short-term |
Implement publicly accessible Wi-Fi networks in open space locations across Gloucester | Long-term |
Bring Internet Service Provider (ISP) market competition to Gloucester | Long-term |
EXPAND DIGITAL LITERACY PROGRAMS AND DEVICE ACCESS
Integrate assessment of digital literacy and device access needs into one-one-one client services in agencies across Gloucester | Short-term |
Provide accessible and adaptive devices. | Short-term |
Provide computer literacy basics program | Short-term |
Expand Workforce Preparation digital skills programs | Short-term |
Support people to build confidence in safe online participation | Short-term |
EXPAND DIGITAL LITERACY PROGRAMS AND DEVICE ACCESS
Offer “how-to” online video tutorials on basic and workforce preparation digital skills in high-need languages | Short-term |
Increase opportunities for Gloucester Public Schools students to pursue technology internships and careers | Long-term |
Scale basic computer and workforce preparation digital literacy programs in proportion to community needs | Long-term |
BUILDING CAPACITY
Form a Gloucester Digital Equity Steering Committee | Short-term |
Launch the Digital Learning Lab at the Sawyer Free Library | Short-term |
Update the Digital Equity Asset map and provide a directory of Gloucester’s Digital Equity resources on a regular basis | Short-term |
Expand computer labs in public spaces to other Gloucester neighborhoods | Long-term |
Support small businesses with digital capacity building | Long-term |
NEXT STEPS
December 2024
REVIEW & APPROVAL BY MBI
PATHWAYS TO FUNDING
FOR MORE INFORMATION
THANK YOU
Project team contact:
Anagha Devanarayanan
Will Pfeffer
Stephen Larrick