- Overview
- The Plan
Overview
The Town of Sandwich worked with the Cape Cod Commission to draft a municipal digital equity plan.
Digital equity efforts seek to ensure everyone has the same access and opportunities to the information technology needed for full participation in society, democracy, and the economy. The focus is on bridging the affordability of internet service and devices, building skills to use programs and equipment, increasing trust, and overcoming language or other barriers that keep individuals from fully participating.
- Presentation: Community Workshop, Dec. 6, 2023
What Is Digital Equity
“A condition in which all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy, and economy. Digital equity is necessary for civic and cultural participation, employment, lifelong learning, and access to essential services.”
National Digital Inclusion Alliance
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Internet ConnectionAffordable, fast, reliable, accessible. |
DevicesAdequate, needs-appropriate, affordable, accessible. |
Literacy/SkillsAbility to use technology, functionality, trust, privacy concerns. |
This project was funded by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute at the MassTech Collaborative under the Municipal Digital Equity Planning Program. Funding was provided by Massachusetts ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Funds.
Purpose of the Digital Equity Plan
Digital equity plans prepare municipalities for future funding opportunities. Through the digital equity planning process, towns can develop strategies in a community-driven framework to ensure all benefit from future investments.
Public input and participation are essential to this process, enabling the town to incorporate and reflect the community's vision when advancing future initiatives and projects.
Plan Elements
- Introduction & Town Vision for Digital Equity
- Current State of Digital Equity
Existing conditions, knowledge gaps, challenges, and opportunities - Stakeholder Engagement Process
Who was engaged and how were they engaged - Objectives & Implementation Strategies
Recommendations for driving solutions - Evaluation and Updates
How will we stay accountable for this work into the future.
Goals
To achieve the community’s vision, the Town of Sandwich should strive to meet the following goals:
- All community members across the Town of Sandwich can equitably:
- Access internet connectivity that is reliable, affordable, and of adequate service quality.
- Access the technology and devices they need to participate and engage through
community resources and programs, availing of the town’s increased technology resources
and community spaces. - Possess the digital skills necessary to live, learn, work, and thrive, expanding skills as the digital world advances and individual needs evolve.
- Entities across the Town of Sandwich can:
- Gain capacity, funding, and resources to enhance existing programs and advance new solutions to achieve these goals
- Function as a network, in collaboration with neighboring communities, to provide complementary and community-responsive services.
