Digital Equity Project

 

MBI and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are committed to closing the digital divide and ensuring digital equity for all residents. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought heightened attention to the importance of broadband access and adoption in almost every facet of daily life. Access to affordable broadband service is no longer considered a luxury, but an essential utility. The need for broadband in the 21st century is often compared to the need for electricity or phone service in previous centuries. Achieving digital equity in the Commonwealth is a critically important goal for our future prosperity. The lack of digital equity impacts our society in profound ways – hindering our citizens’ access to economic prosperity, health care, educational attainment, and civic and social engagement.

 

As part of this work, the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) recently launched the Massachusetts Statewide Digital Equity Survey to better understand the needs of Massachusetts residents when it comes to internet access and digital equity. 

 

This important survey will help inform the Commonwealth’s investment of historic funding to provide improved connectivity for all residents of Massachusetts, increasing access to education, healthcare, civic engagement, economic, and other opportunities. The MBI would like to make sure your voice is heard and that the Commonwealth’s plans reflect the unique needs in our communities.  

 

The survey will take about 5 minutes to complete – the survey is at https://made.civilspace.io/en/projects/ma-digital-equity/engagements/ma-...

 

Copies of the survey in English, Spanish, and Portuguese are available on the Town's web site or in the Select Board's office in the East Bridgewater Town Hall.

 

 

Paper copies of the survey can be sent to Luke Mitchell c/o VHB, 101 Walnut Street, PO Box 9151, Watertown MA, 02472

 

Please consider completing the survey and sharing with your friends, colleagues, and community members to do the same.

 

To follow the Statewide Digital Equity Planning process, please its web site at https://broadband.masstech.org/internetforall

 

The Town and its consultant, VHB, held a Digity Equity Charette on Tuesday, August 15 at the East Bridgewater Council on Aging to hear from residents about the challenges that they face in obtaining access to the internet and what some possible solutions might be. Slides from the presentation are available.