Plan aims to address barriers and close the digital divide
The City of Gloucester is proud to partner with the Sawyer Free Library to create the City’s first-ever Digital Equity Plan; this planning effort officially launched in November 2023 and is currently entering the community engagement phase.
The Digital Equity Plan, developed in collaboration with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), aims to bridge the digital divide within the community by assessing the three pillars of digital equity: broadband connection, device access, and device literacy.
“Access to reliable internet and understanding how to use this technology is pivotal to some of the most basic of things in life, like viewing your medical records online or applying for a job,” said Mayor Greg Verga. “We recognize that there are members of our City that may face different barriers than others, so this plan will help us identify those obstacles and understand what the challenges are. The plan will help us look ahead to the future and put forward realistic recommendations to help bridge these gaps.”
The planning effort will be comprised of four phases, including:
- Existing conditions Assessment and Data Analysis, December 2023 – February 2024
- Community Engagement and Qualitative Research, January – March 2024
- Action Plan Development, February – April 2024
- Documentation and Plan Communication, February – May 2024
“Sawyer Free Library is at the forefront of the work to close the digital divide in Gloucester and is recognized for its leadership in addressing public Internet access since the pandemic,” said Library Director Jenny Benedict. “We are thrilled to see increased investment in our community and to work with community partners to prioritize recommendations that are going to make the biggest difference and help the most number of people.”
The City, the Library and MAPC will work with relevant stakeholders within the community to assess the current shortfalls through online community surveys, interviews, and focus groups.
To learn more about Gloucester’s Digital Equity Plan, visit:https://digitalequity.gloucester-ma.gov/home. This project is fully funded by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute’s Municipal Digital Equity Planning Program. By having a Municipal Digital Equity Plan, Gloucester will be eligible for future digital equity funding opportunities through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, including allocations from federal resources and programs.
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