Greater Lowell Digital Equity Plan

1. Internet Access and Income: Home internet access is highly correlated with income. A high percentage (34.1%) of households earning under $20,000 have no internet connection, compared to only 3.2% of households earning over $75,000.
2. Digital Literacy: While comprehensive data on digital literacy is lacking, stakeholder outreach suggests that certain population groups—including immigrants and older adults—disproportionately lack essential digital skills, such as basic computer skills, internet safety knowledge, and the ability to navigate online resources, including local government services that have moved online. There is a need to keep training updated with evolving technology.
3. Device Access: Many lower income, immigrant, and older residents lack a computer or rely on smartphones only, which are not always suitable for modern online needs. Stakeholders report a high demand for affordable devices, and while shared devices in public spaces can help, these lack privacy. 6% of households have no computer device, and 5.62% of households use only cellular devices to connect to the internet, representing nearly 12% of households in the region. Device access gaps are worse in urban areas of the NMCOG region, with nearly 20% of Lowell households and nearly 15% of Dracut households lacking a computer or having only a smartphone at home.
4. Language and Cultural Barriers: Language and cultural barriers amplify digital equity issues, as ISP customer support, digital skills classes, and device programs most often default to English, and digital equity programming and resources are most often offered in spaces that do not provide multilingual support and cultural competency for technical assistance and digital literacy classes.
5. Lack of ISP competition: Across the Greater Lowell region, local government officials and residents alike are frustrated with the lack of competition among Internet Service providers. While nearly all addresses are served by at least one cable provider, only 30% of addresses in the region are served by fiber. Much of the region experiences duopoly conditions, with much of Lowell, Dracut, and Pepperell experiencing near monopoly conditions and having only limed fiber coverage. This lack of consumer choice can have impacts on quality and affordability of service.
6. Lack of Coordination and Funding: Inconsistent funding for programs that provide digital equity support and a lack of coordination between municipal and community programs can hinder progress. Organizations providing digital literacy support face challenges due to limited staff capacity and training, as well as limited or outdated equipment.

The plan's recommendations all build toward six key strategies. The plan supports any funding applications or work toward these overarching goals:

• Strategy 1: Build capacity to implement and evaluate digital equity progress
• Strategy 2: Improve quality, reliability, and affordability of broadband services to the home, especially for priority populations
• Strategy 3: Enhance digital access in public spaces and facilities
• Strategy 4: Support programs and services that reach priority populations and advance all pillars of digital equity
• Strategy 5: Collaborate regionally to expand impact and uplift existing work
• Strategy 6: Provide inclusive municipal digital services to make local government more accessible and user friendly

The plan recommends a special set of strategies to collaborate regionally. This may make the biggest impact on Greater Lowell's digital divice:

1. Form a regional digital equity task force.
2. Bring on a regional digital navigator to support and coordinate existing programs and to staff the digital equity task force.
3. Pursue state, federal, and foundation grants or fellowships to support digital equity efforts.
4. Offer municipal and/or regional grants to support community-based organizations providing digital equity services.
5. Undertake coordinated program evaluation, including conducting survey assessments to measure progress.
6. Commission a feasibility study to explore the provision of municipal internet service or public administration of an open access network.
7. Inventory and map existing broadband infrastructure—including existing municipal or public fiber, private fiber, and cell signal coverage—and explore how existing public infrastructure can be leveraged or expanded, while coordinating with private ISPs to advocate for expanded service coverage.
8. Conduct an inventory and audit digital assets and needs in public facilities and then invest in “quick win” facilities improvements.
9. Ensure older adults have access to digital literacy and tech support, with a focus on basic tech skills and cybersecurity and online safety training. A senior/youth pairing program is a good system for digital literacy training and tech support.
10. Create a regional digital equity library through inventorying, sharing, and translating existing digital equity educational program materials for language access and cultural relevance, making them more accessible and adaptable.
11. Create a regional program to coordinate device donation, refurbishment, and distribution, partnering with non-profit and corporate entities.
12. Create a regional digital equity resources directory and shared events calendar, and market and promote to at-risk populations and the organizations that serve them.
13. Create a digital outreach and online engagement guide to assist communities in using social media and digital tools equitably and effectively. This may include adapting existing materials with local and regional information.