Read the press release from Department of Community and Economic Development: Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority Seeking Public Input on Community Engagement Efforts – PA Department of Community & Economic Development. Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (Authority) Executive Director Brandon Carson is asking Pennsylvanians to provide input on the stakeholder engagement process for developing two plans: the State Digital Equity Plan and the Commonwealth’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Five-Year Action Plan. The two-week public comment period began February 27 and ends Friday, March 10.
- Engage patrons or groups who use public library access to technology and internet in conversations about their needs. The 2022 Diigital Inclusion Toolkit from New York State Library and the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) has sample surveys and scripts to guide a process for gathering local community needs. Talk with computer internet users, neighboring libraries, nonprofits, workforce development organizations, municipal governance, and other possible partners about getting engaged in digital equity work. Resources from the Digital Inclusion Startup Manual from the National Digital Inclusion Alliance might also be helpful.
- View Pennsylvania’s Digital Equity Roundtable: Stakeholder Engagement Plan Development: Digital Equity Roundtable | Stakeholder Engagement Plan Development (pa.gov)
- Give your feedback on the plan via a form: Digital Equity Stakeholder Engagement Plan (office.com)
- Plan to attend a roundtable on March 16 in person at 11a.m. at the Keystone Building or virtual or at 6p.m. virtual.
- Tell patrons about this chance to give feedback, especially those who are part of covered populations.
Libraries, as community anchor institutions, are well positioned to plan and host local community engagement events to ensure that the voices and needs of Pennsylvanians are well understood and reflected in the State Digital Equity Plan and the Commonwealth’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Five-Year Action Plan. Together, we can ensure that all Pennsylvanians have equitable access to connectivity, devices, resources, and the digital skills needed to live, work, and play in the connected world.