Digital Equity Matters Mary Beth Henry Digital Equity/Broadband - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Digital Equity Matters

Mary Beth Henry Digital Equity/Broadband Advocate Oregon Connections October 18, 2018

Digital Equity Matters Agenda

 What is digital equity/digital divide/digital

inclusion & why does it matter?

• What Does the Research Say?
• Broadband Policy: Federal & State

 Oregon’s Homegrown Success Stories: Access &

Digital Inclusion

 Community-Building in the Digital Age  Call to Action:

• What can we do at the State level?
• What can we do as individuals?

 Final Thoughts

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What is Digital Equity?

National Digital Inclusion Alliance

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Digital Equity ensures 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

“ “

What is the Digital Divide?

 Refers to the difference/gap between people

who have easy access to the Internet, have devices, have digital skills and those who don’t.

 The digital divide is really “digital divides”:

• Differences between rural and urban Internet access
• Socioeconomic differences, people of different races,

income levels, education, special needs or disabilities,

• etc. that affects their ability to access the internet

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What is Digital Inclusion?

• National Digital Inclusion Alliance

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Digital Inclusion refers to the activities necessary to ensure that all individuals and communities, including the most disadvantaged, have access to, and use of, information and communication technologies (ICTs

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5 Elements of Digital Inclusion

• National Digital Inclusion Alliance

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1) Affordable, robust broadband Internet service; 2) Internet-enabled devices that meet the needs of the user; 3) Access to digital literacy training; 4) Quality technical support; and 5) Applications and online content designed to enable and encourage self-sufficiency, participation, and collaboration.

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Why Does it Matter?

 Broadband infrastructure supports and enables

everything – it is foundational

 Digital skills underpin nearly every aspect of work

and life

 Economic Opportunity, Democracy, Healthcare,

Education, Environment

 >$1,850 per household per year in economic benefits  1 in 5 Oregonians don’t have internet at home

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Broadband Availability in Oregon

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Oregon is Slightly Above National Average for Speed and Penetration

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66% 58% 17% 66% 50% 15% Oregon National Oregon National Oregon National Penetration by Geography 10 Mbps/1 Mbps 25 Mbps/3 Mbps 100 Mbps/10 Mbps

However, Speed and Penetration are Not Equitably Distributed Across Oregon

Broadband Status

Total Portland Central Coast Central Oregon SW Oregon NW Coast North Central South Central Eastern

Broadband at home 82% 85% 83% 83% 79% 78% 76% 69% 67%

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Higher penetration Lower penetration

Many rural and urban Oregonians lack broadband access at home

Broadband: A Rural-Urban Shared Imperative

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Achieving Digital Equity

Low cost Broadband available @ home Connecting training with relevant content & services Low cost computers available Public access computing centers Regional collaborations/initiatives – partners Funding for program sustainability Outcome-based evaluation Whole community strategy

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What’s Happening at the Federal Level?

 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

• Rural Utilities Service – Additional $600 million coming soon

 National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA)

• BroadbandUSA

 Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

• Gutting the Lifeline program
• Rural broadband availability overstated
• Eliminated Net Neutrality & Title II regulation
• Tried to redefine broadband
• Connect America Fund (CAF) II
• eRate
• Local government preemption

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What’s Happening at the State Level?

 Oregon Broadband Advisory Council

• Oregon Connections Conference – 23rd yr.
• Rural Broadband Capacity Pilot Program
• Local champions
• Rural Broadband and Broadband in Oregon reports
• Broadband Outreach & Strategic Planning – 8 local plans
• Under-resourced

 Oregon Universal Service Fund

• Expanded to broadband 2017
• eRate: Established, but needs $

 Oregon Fiber Partnership  Net Neutrality

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A Look at What Other States Are Doing

Minnesota California Maine

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Minnesota

 Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Development

(2008): Develops policies and action plans to promote broadband.

 Office of Broadband Development (2013): Expands high

speed broadband access to all households, businesses, schools and government buildings by 2026.

 St. Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN) – Community

Technology Empowerment Project (CTEP) - AmeriCorps

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California

 California Emerging Technology Fund – (CETF) (2005)

Provides leadership statewide to close the "Digital Divide" by accelerating the deployment and adoption of broadband to unserved and underserved communities and populations.

 California Broadband Council (2010)

To promote broadband deployment in unserved and underserved areas of the state as defined by the Public Utilities Commission, and broadband adoption throughout the state.

 Broadband and Digital Literacy Office

The Mission is to establish digital literacy throughout the state

• f California. Goal 98% of state to have broadband access

and 90% adoption by 2023

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Maine

 ConnectME (2006): establishes unserved/underserved

criteria, promotes use, supports investment, facilitates state support, collects and disseminates info, and administers funds.

• Broadband Action Plan June 2018 – State to pay 25% of cost of rural

deployment for unserved (defined as < 25/3). Maine goal is 100/10

 Axiom: Private rural provider (2004)  Axiom Education & Training Center

• National Digital Equity Center/ Maine Digital Inclusion

Initiative (2017)

• Americorps

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Community Networks Across the Country

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Oregon’s Homegrown Success Stories: Broadband Access

Douglas Fast Net Eastern Oregon Telecom SandyNet EugNet MINET OnlineNW LS Networks

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Douglas Fast Net

 Formed by Douglas Electric Coop (2001)  Partners

 Roseburg and Douglas County  Douglas County Fire District #2  State of Oregon  Mercy Medical Center  Umpqua Community College  Nine city governments, thirteen school districts, countless

business and medical facilities and residential.

 $39.99 to $89.99 per month (100MPS to 1 Gig)  11,000 active circuits that include residential and non-

residential

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Eastern Oregon Telecom

 Hermiston/Umatilla County  EOT was formed in 1999, and was initially owned by

Umatilla and Douglas Electric Coops, four telephone cooperatives and a telecommunications consulting firm

 Initially offering telephone services, EOT expanded to

high-speed internet in 2003

 Employee buyout to facilitate expansion  All bi-lingual staff  3,500 customers

.

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SandyNet

 Municipal broadband utility: started with wireless  Partnered with OFS & launched fiber construction

in 2014

 Take rate was 60% in first year, has grown to 68%  300 Mbps synchronous - $39.95  1 Gbps synchronous – $59.95

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EUGNET

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 Economic Development Partnership – City of Eugene,

Eugene Water and Electric Board, Lane Council of Governments, with support from Technology Association of Oregon

 Open Access – publicly owned and available to lease

by any ISP

 About 70 buildings have signed up to connect  About 10 x faster and half the cost of other providers  New businesses and existing businesses expanding

 Cities of Monmouth & Independence  Lit up triple-play fiber to the home system in 2007  Leveraging network for education and economic

development

 Key assets are agility and alignment  Proximity to University partners (WOU, OSU)  Agricultural technology is a niche

MINET

In the Mid-Willamette Valley

Dayton & Willamina

 Develop strategic partnerships: Critical one being Innovate Oregon, a

part of the Technology Association of Oregon (TAO)

 Create a new story: Build the first 10 Gig fiber network on the West

Coast, introduce new Agile mindsets, skillsets and toolsets to the school and community, build an Innovation Fund with revenues from the network subscribers

 Focus on the big story: Creating a new “opportunity paradigm” for

rural communities

 Tell the story: Use resources from the community to share the story

both within the communities and to other communities

Public Private Partnership

• LS Networks funded middle mile and POP
• City funded local fiber distribution
• Combined efforts provide 100% fiber coverage for the

community

Open Network

• Any Internet Service Provider (ISP) can participate
• Currently 2 ISPs participating in program

“Better Broadband than Portland”

• GIGABIT Internet for $70
• Schools now have access to high speed broadband
• 4G Wireless coverage improvement
• Foundation for economical growth
• Remote teleworkers relocating to Maupin
• Increased audience for local businesses

Low Cost Internet in Oregon

Discount Internet Guidebook Comcast Internet Essentials CenturyLink Internet Basics Spectrum Internet Assist Frontier

Oregon’s Homegrown Success: Digital Inclusion Programs

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Libraries Schools ChickTech Non-Profit Technology Network (NTEN) Free Geek Open Signal MetroEast Community Media

Libraries Play Key Role

“Libraries are becoming more rather than less popular and

central to civic life.”

Invaluable in promoting digital inclusion Primary source of internet access for many Americans 70% of rural libraries are the only free Internet access

providers in their community

Majority believe libraries should teach digital skills

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Schools Play a Central Role

 Homework Gap  Refers to the difficulty students experience completing homework when they

lack internet access at home, compared to those who have access.

 Only 61% of US homes with school-age children have internet @ home  75% of US school systems do not have any off-campus strategies for providing

connectivity to students at home and after school

 Beaverton School District  Extended Library Hours  Wi-Fi Map & Hotspots in all High Schools & Middle Schools  Latino Technology Nights  TechSmart Initiative for Student Success - Mt Hood Cable Regulatory Commission  $19 million technology investment over 10 years  David Douglas, Parkrose, Reynolds, Portland Public Schools,

Gresham-Barlow, and Centennial

75% of school systems

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ChickTech envisions a safe, inclusive, and innovative technology future that includes equal pay, participation, and treatment of women. In the last year: 6,126 Adults Served 1,471 Volunteers 73 Girls in Tech Events 171 Women in Tech Events

ChickTech was founded locally in 2012 and now has over 25 chapters across North America, we have built a multi- generational movement where we are improving the lives

• f women and girls, and transforming the technology

industry as a whole.

Learn more: nten.org/DIF leana@nten.org

Launched in 2015, the Digital Inclusion Fellowship supports people in building critical digital literacy skills by providing training and capacity building to nonprofits. Fellows participate in a one-year, project-based professional development cohort to expand digital inclusion programs in their community.

• 4 Cohorts
• 60 Fellows
• 20 Cities
• 16,000 digital literacy students
• 100,000 instructional hours

FREEGEEK.ORG

Sustainable Reuse

• Responsible recycler and technology reuse facility
• Processing over 1 million pounds of e-waste annually

Digital Access

• Connecting volunteers, local nonprofits, and K-12 students with technology
• Granted 72,620 technology devices since 2000

Education

• Offering free training on e-cycling, computer refurbishment to volunteers
• Providing free classes on computer basics, digital privacy, programming and more
• Learners have logged 17,936 classroom hours in the last six years

Sustainably reuses technology, enables digital access and provides education to create a community that empowers people to realize their potential.

DIGITAL INCLUSION EFFORTS

 Free Macintosh Basics classes for adults  Introduction to media technology and media literacy classes for

middle and high school students and houseless youth

 Introduction to digital video tools for Spanish speakers  Media classes for members of the disabled community  Free public media library, including MacBookPro laptops and

iPads

 Free wifi access at our community facility  Free public video production and animation labs

METROEAST COMMUNITY MEDIA

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Relevant Digital Inclusion Programs Outside Oregon

WASH & LEARN INITIATIVE (WALI) PC’s For People Tech Goes Home Older Adult Technology Services (OATS)

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What Role Can Community Economic Development Play in Bridging the Digital Divides?

Broadband connectivity Knowledge workforce Innovation Digital equity Are you telling your story? Sustainability

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Call to Action: What Can Oregon Do?

Establish an Office for Broadband Establish an Office for Broadband Add wireless & VOIP to the OUSF Add wireless & VOIP to the OUSF Tax wireless to fund digital inclusion Tax wireless to fund digital inclusion Establish a broadband investment fund Establish a broadband investment fund Update Broadband Adoption Survey Update Broadband Adoption Survey Update Broadband Map & independently verify Update Broadband Map & independently verify Facilitate community broadband planning Facilitate community broadband planning Adopt policies that support broadband deployment Adopt policies that support broadband deployment Engage AmeriCorps Engage AmeriCorps Engage philanthropic community Engage philanthropic community Engage OSU Extension Engage OSU Extension Engage universities & community colleges Engage universities & community colleges Encourage tech talent to run for

• ffice

Encourage tech talent to run for

• ffice

Evaluate policies using a Digital Equity Lens Evaluate policies using a Digital Equity Lens Reach out to Federal Reserve Reach out to Federal Reserve

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Call To Action: What can we do as individuals?

5 Key questions for effective people

Wait…What? I wonder if…? Couldn’t we at least…? How can I help? What truly matters to me?

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MBH2

Slide 40 MBH2

Mary Beth Henry, 10/16/2018

Final Thoughts

The internet is the new essential utility, yet many Oregonians lack broadband access The digital divide(s) is a critical economic challenge for both rural and urban areas There are many successful digital inclusion models at state and community levels Oregon needs to fund a comprehensive broadband and digital equity strategy Community-specific broadband strategies are needed to prosper in the digital age

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THANKS

Oregon – She Flies With Her Own Wings

Chris Tamarin Joe Franell

• Rep. Pam Marsh

Adam Haas Rebecca Gibbons Vailey Oehlke David Olson Dave Sabala Robert Gallardo Geoff Daily Susan Walters Susan Corbett Sam Pastrick Joe Knapp Shawn Irvine Geoff Daily Sheldon Renan Joanne Hovis James Fallows Colin Rhinesmith James Ryan Lucas Turpin Vince Adams Mike Burnett Cindy Gibbon Rebecca Burrell Doug Dawson Angela Seifert Roberto Gallardo Ed Parker Chris Mitchell Rebecca Gibbons Thompson Morrison Danna MacKenzie OATOA Julie Omelchuck Brant Wolf Michael Hanna Colleen Dixon Drew Pizzolato Leif Hansen Dan Bartholomew Rich Bader Bryan Adams Bryan Conway Matthew Hiefield Blair Levin Matt Timberlake Ben Burnett Laura Bell Karl Mundorf

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Resources

 Everyone in this room!  National Digital Inclusion Alliance - NDIA  Gigabit Cities – Technical strategies for facilitating public or private

broadband construction in your community.

 Coalition for Local Internet Choice (CLIC)  The Next Generation Network Connectivity Handbook  Next Century Cities  NATOA/OATOA  Oregon Broadband Advisory Council

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