Digital Inclusion for Regional Development

November 13, 2018

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Today’s Agenda

• Overview of Digital Inclusion and Potential Role of Regional Councils• Emy Tseng, Senior Broadband Program Specialist,

Broadband USA, NTIA, U.S. Department of Commerce

• Regional Digital Inclusion Example• Sara Daugherty, Economic Development Program

Manager, Eastgate Regional Council of GovermentsYoungstown, OH

Emy Tseng

November 13, 2018

National Association of Regional Councils Webinar

Digital Inclusion for Regional Development

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The National Telecommunications and Information

Administration (NTIA) advises on telecom policy issues

• Expanding broadband access and adoption

• Expanding the use of spectrum by all users

• Ensuring that the Internet remains an engine

for continued innovation and economic growth

• Supporting public safety communications

5

NTIA’s BroadbandUSA program educates stakeholders,

facilitates relationships, and provides helpful resources

Arm stakeholders with key information

to have more effective discussions

with providers

Convene & facilitate the right

conversations

Provide guidance to stakeholders,

partners and providers

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What is Digital Inclusion?

• Digital Equity: 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.

• Digital Inclusion: Ensures that individuals and communities have access to robust broadband connections; Internet-enabled devices that meet their needs; and the skills to explore, create and collaborate in the digital world.

• Digital Literacy: The ability to leverage current technologies, such as smartphones and laptops, and Internet access to find relevant information, create content and interact with the world.

• Digital Skills: Any skills related to operating digital devices or taking advantage of digital resources

From BroadbandUSA Glossary and National Digital Inclusion Alliance

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Aspects of Digital Inclusion

•Access / Affordability

•Devices

•Skills

• Innovation

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Why is Digital Inclusion Important?

Education: Homework gap: 39% percent of children lack home

internet access at home and 15% lack a home computer.

Healthcare: Telehealth can help reduce hospital admissions by

35% and overall length of hospital stay by 59%.

Employment: More than 70% of unemployed Americans use

the Internet to find new jobs. 71% of jobs require medium to

high technology skills.

Business: Businesses that use broadband earn $300,000

more in annual revenue. Small businesses that increased their

Internet use by 10% saw a 24% gain in revenue and 7% cost

savings.

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The Digital Divide is really a set of “Digital Divides”

• Gap between people who have access to the Internet, devices and

have digital skills and those who don’t

– Regional differences: urban, rural, tribal

– Socioeconomic differences: gender, race, income, levels of

education, disabilities, language

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Over 33 million households do not use the Internet at home

Source: NTIA Data Central, https://www.ntia.doc.gov/data

Percent of Households Using

the Internet at Home, 2015

63 82

WY76%

AR67%

NC69%TN

67%

FL71%

GA73%

SC72%

AL 67%

LA 70%

MS63%

VA76%

WA78%

NV79% UT

80%

MT73%

ID81%

CO76%

AZ69% NM

67%

NE73%

ND71%

IA75%

WI82%

IL78%

PA70%

RI 79%

CT 76%

NJ 78%

MA 75%

AK81%

ME76%

IN74%

VT81%

DC 74%

HI76%

KS73%

CA76%

OR79%

TX71%

OK67%

SD69%

MN80%

MI 71%

KY74%

OH71% DE 75%

NH80%

WV68%

MO70%

NY 73%

MD 81%

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Rural Broadband Adoption

61% of rural Americans used

the Internet from home in

2015, up from 29% in 2000.

30% of rural residents

ages 15 and older did not

use the Internet at all in

2015, compared with 23%

of urban residents.

Rural Americans were 9%

less likely than urban

residents to use a

smartphone in 2015. They

were also 6% less likely to

use a tablet.

Source: NTIA Data Central

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NTIA’s Digital NationData Explorer

https://ntia.doc.gov/data

FCC 477 Broadband Adoption Residential Fixed Internet Access

Service Connections

https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/maps https://factfinder.census.gov

U.S. Census American

Community Survey (ACS)Factfinder

Broadband Adoption, Internet and Computer Use Data

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Need more information about your communities?

Surveys and Focus Groups

• Small Businesses and Employers

• Harder to reach communities (disabled, limited English speaking)

• Detailed information about skills and types of use

• E-Government and government services

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Digital Inclusion Strategies

• Access / Affordability

– Discount Broadband, Public WiFi, Mobile Hotspots

• Devices

– 1-1 Laptop Programs, Refurbished Computers, Discount

Computers, Laptop Lending, Public Computer Centers

• Digital Skills

– Digital Literacy, Workforce Skills, Privacy and Security, E-

Government, Health

• Innovation

– STEM, Coding, Civic Data and Technology, Smart Communities

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Potential Digital Inclusion Partners

• Economic and Workforce Development Agencies

• Libraries

• Housing

• Education: K-12, Community Colleges, University Extension Programs

• Businesses: Internet Service Providers, Financial Institutions, Small

Business Associations

• Nonprofits: Community Foundations, After-school programs,

Community Based Organizations

• Health: Community Health, Hospitals, VA

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What can regional councils do?

• Convene stakeholders: determine community priorities

• Assess community needs: analyze and map federal data, conduct

surveys, focus groups

• Identify organizations and programs that provide digital inclusion

services and training

• Coordinate partnerships and funding opportunities

• Document digital inclusion programs and efforts

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The Connected Community

• Access

• Mobility

• Inclusion

• Sustainability

• Cost Savings

• Economic Development

• Smart Regions

• Innovation

• Education

• Health

• Resiliency

• Civic Engagement

• Data Driven Decisions

• Workforce Development

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BroadbandUSA Digital Inclusion Resources

Publications

• Digital Inclusion Guide: Connectivity with a Purpose

• Planning a Community Broadband Roadmap

• Broadband Adoption Toolkit

• Federal Funding Guide

Webinars

• Upcoming 1/16/18:

• 7/18/18: Statewide Strategies for Rural Digital Inclusion

• 1/17/18: Innovative Funding Solutions for Digital Inclusion Programs

• 9/20/18: Digital Training and Workforce Development

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BroadbandUSA is available to help communities with

their broadband access and digital inclusion efforts

For General Information and join our mailing list:

• 202-482-2048

• broadbandusa@ntia.doc.gov

• http://www.broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov

To Request Technical Assistance:

• Contact broadbandusa@ntia.doc.gov

• Emy Tseng etseng@ntia.doc.gov

Services

Metropolitan Planning Organization

Areawide Water Quality

Economic Development District

Local Development District

State Programs

all with a staff of 16

Largest City: Youngstown 2 County MPO: 435,000 3 County Service: 534,000

Yeah, maps!

Digital Inclusion Working Group

• Council of Governments

• County Governments

• Local Governments

• Safety Forces

• Libraries

• Educational Support Services

• Non Profits

• Workforce Development Boards

• Port Authorities

• Internet Service Providers

• Congressional Liaisons

• Housing Authorities

• Healthcare Providers

• Community Colleges

• Churches

• Senior Services

What are we working towards?

Vision:

All people can take advantage of educational, economic, and social opportunities available through digital technologies.

Goals:

1. Communicate importance of digital literacy skills.

2. Provide adequate and affordable broadband service.

3. Access to Internet-enabled devices to meet the needs of the community.

4. Approachable digital literacy training & technical support.

5. Applications & online content designed to enable and encourage self-sufficiency, participation, and collaboration.

2018 Deliverables

• Roles & Responsibilities

• Communication

• Programming

What We’ve Learned Our 1st Year

• National Digital Inclusion Alliance is our best friend.

• Create shared language for what success looks like.

• Make the intangible click.

Questions?

Contact Information

• Maci Morin, NARC: maci.morin@narc.org

• Emy Tseng, Broadband USA: etseng@ntia.doc.gov

• Sara Daugherty, Eastgate Regional Council of Governments: sdaugherty@eastgatecog.org

Thank you!

Please register for our next NARC webinars/briefings:

Legislative Briefing on the Mid-Term Election: November 14 at 3pm ET

Opportunity Zones Webinar, in Partnership with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC):

November 15 at 3pm ET