Benton Institute for Broadband & Society looks at MN Draft Digital Opportunity Plan

Ann Treacy

Aug 30

Benton Institute for Broadband & Society took a look at MN Draft Digital Opportunity Plan. It's a great recap for folks who don't have time to read the whole plan, which the Office of Broadband Development released earlier this month. And/or it serves as a cheat sheet for folks who read it and can use a prompt.

I am just going to share the info on state goals…

Goals, Objectives and Strategies of the Minnesota Digital Opportunity Plan

Goal 1: Connect People to People

Minnesota's digital opportunity advocates and educators statewide are a strong, united group that can lean on each other for fresh ideas, new strategies, and consistent support.
a. Pilot a structured Digital Opportunity Leaders Network that combines local energy, regional expertise, and statewide continuity. The Digital Opportunity Leaders Network includes three tiers of participation:
i. Local participation through Digital Connection Committees (DCCs)
ii. Regional coordination and technical support for DCCs through contracted regional digital opportunity partners
iii. State coordination for regions from OBD
b. Convene an inter-agency digital opportunity workgroup with appointed membership from state agencies representing key partners and covered populations.
c. Expand the DCC model of engagement through annual recruitment campaigns.
d. Retain existing DCCs through regularly scheduled virtual meetings and ongoing communication from OBD.

Progress towards this first objective will be tracked by measuring the number of Digital Connection Committees statewide.

All Minnesotans have access to a trusted provider of digital skills training, including training that addresses cybersecurity.

Administer grants designed to support digital navigation services, targeting rural cities, rural counties, and organizations that both represent and serve covered populations.
b. Collaborate with internet service providers who are receiving state and federal infrastructure funds to ensure newly connected households understand the basics of cybersecurity.
c. Provide all Community Action Partnership (CAP) agencies, Centers for Independent Living, regional public library systems, veteran homes, and area agencies on aging a non-competitive funding opportunity to pilot digital navigator positions that support clients with digital access and skills needs.
d. Prepare a report that explores models for a statewide technology assistance helpline.

Progress towards this second objective will be measured by increases in: i) the number of individuals reached through expanded and new digital skills programs ii) the proportion of eligible Minnesota households enrolled in the Federal Communications Commission's Affordable Connectivity Program, and iii) the proportion of eligible Minnesota households enrolled in the FCC's Lifeline program. For both programs, Minnesota is aiming to have 70 percent of eligible households enrolled by 2028.

All Minnesotans have access to a trusted provider of quality technical support.

Develop curriculum and administer grants designed to support high schools, after-school programs, and 2-year public and tribal colleges in hiring and training students to work part-time as paid tech repair technicians.
b. Administer grants to small businesses to assess their technology needs and improve their technology access.

The measure of progress towards the third objective is the number of i) devices repaired through school tech repair programs and ii) small businesses reporting improved technology access.

Goal 2: Connect People to Information

This goal recognizes the significance of data and information as tools for advancing digital opportunities at both the local and statewide levels. It also aims to foster collaboration among diverse communities to create new avenues for data-driven digital opportunity decision-making. Information gains its value by the ways people use it to fuel change.

Transparency is a key value at the core of this goal, emphasizing the importance of open access to information as well as the expert assistance it sometimes takes to make meaning out of it. Making data and information readily available allows for collaboration and informed decision-making, empowering communities to bridge the digital divide and fully utilize the resources offered by technology. By championing accessibility, this goal simultaneously ensures that everyone has an equal opportunity to benefit from digital availability of information.

Minnesotans can access comprehensive data and mapping tools to evaluate digital opportunity in their area as well as statewide.

Expand OBD's staff to include a position supporting digital opportunity data collection and analysis.
b. Build upon OBD's broadband infrastructure maps to include measures of digital opportunity, similar to Purdue University's Digital Divide Index.
c. Enhance readily available data with additional data measuring baseline digital literacy and baseline cybersecurity awareness across covered populations.
d. Incorporate a directory of digital opportunity resources and partners for public reference.

OBD hopes to have a staff member dedicated to digital opportunity data analytics by 2028. The office will further track progress towards this objective by measuring unique views of its digital opportunity mapping tool and resource directory.

All Minnesota townships, cities, counties, and tribes have the opportunity to create localized data-driven digital opportunity plans to support their residents and tribal members.

Administer non-competitive formula grants to townships, cities, counties, regional development commissions, and tribes that seek funding to conduct local evaluation and develop their own digital opportunity plans.
b. Allow townships, cities, counties, tribes, and other entities to contribute data collected under formula grants to OBD's comprehensive digital opportunity data and mapping tools.
c. Partner with University of Minnesota Extension to develop curriculum and deliver a cohort-based training series for townships, cities, counties, and tribes new to digital opportunity planning to receive additional guidance and support.

To reach this objective, the OBD is aiming that, by 2028, 150 cities, counties, and tribes have adopted their own digital opportunity plans (only 4 have to date)—and all tribes and counties along with 50 cities support digital opportunity policies and initiatives.

Goal 3: Connect People to Resources

This goal relates to reliable fixed and wireless broadband internet service; internet-enabled devices that meet the needs of the user; and applications and online content designed to enable and encourage self-sufficiency, participation, and collaboration.

All Minnesota households have the option to afford the internet service available at their location.

Amplify opportunities for internet service providers receiving state and federal infrastructure funds to market income-based subsidy programs, like ACP, to newly connected households.
b. Collaborate with MN Housing, EducationSuperHighway, North Country Service Cooperative, and other housing partners to improve internet and device access for Minnesota's apartment, multi-dwelling unit, and manufactured housing residents.
c. Prepare a report that explores potential models for a statewide program similar to ACP and Lifeline to reduce internet costs for low-income Minnesota households.

To reach this objective, OBD aims for, by 2028, broadband subscriptions in 95 percent of Minnesota's households, relying upon, as noted above, 70 percent of eligible households participating in the federal Affordable Connectivity Program and 50 percent of eligible households participating in the federal Lifeline program.

All Minnesota adults have the option to afford a large-screen device or smartphone, whichever most efficiently helps them access the applications they require.

Research models for a statewide program similar to ACP that offers a device discount for low-income Minnesotans.
b. Prepare a report that explores sustainable state-managed system for circulating large-screen devices as long-term loans through collaborating public programs.

In addition to the subscription target mentioned above, OBD wants to, by 2028, decrease the proportion of Minnesota households with access to only a smartphone from 6.4 percent to 2 percent and the proportion of Minnesota households with access to only a tablet from 0.9 percent to 0.25 percent.

New digital opportunity pathways reach Minnesotans who are at high risk for being digitally excluded.

Collaborate with MN Department of Corrections and the MN Career Education Center to ensure formerly incarcerated Minnesotans who are re-entering society receive full re-entry supports connecting them to digital technologies when legally permissible.
b. Collaborate with DEED's Office of New Americans to support access to digital skills training and resources for immigrants and refugees.
c. Partner with DEED's CareerForce locations to expand digital skills training and resources for career seekers.
d. Administer competitive grant funding to organizations serving covered populations that are conducting digital opportunity work.

For covered populations, by 2028, OBD wants to reach 95 percent of people with:

broadband internet subscriptions,

laptop or desktop computers,

the digital skills and technical support needed to accomplish their individual technology goals,

comfort identifying and mitigating cybersecurity issues, and

using state, local, and tribal government websites without barriers related to accessibility standards.