Vermonters discuss unique opportunities to bridge the digital divide.
As a new Vermont resident I am learning new things everyday about the increasing number of local resources, organizations, initiatives and services that are available to local residents. In Chittenden county where I live there is a unique blend of diverse communities including an increasing number of New Americans, University Students, Retirees, Veterans and Remote Workers. This unique mix of people, culture and perspective has fueled my curiosity to learn more.
With help from several friends I recently hosted a public event to discuss current and potential ways to bridge the digital divide that are unique to the resources and people in the area. 25 individuals representing City offices, Advocacy organizations, Universities, Libraries, Tech companies, ISP’s and more came to join the discussion. Many attendees came prepared with suggestions and ideas for how to move forward.
“Digital technology has opened new domains of exclusion and privilege for some, leaving some populations isolated from the vast digital realm. Even equitable access, however, is no longer enough — increasingly, digital life requires that users be more than users. Users are now content creators as much as they are content” Digital Inclusion Survey
At a previous event I learned that there is a need for more data and resources related to local digital barriers and internet usage. For that reason, I kicked off this event with an overview of the existing data we have on local Internet Usage in an attempt to better understand and communicate what we know and/or don’t know about Vermont’s digital divide.
I had a lot of fun preparing slides that summarize 2017 Broadband availability by building, Internet Connection by household, a regional SWOT analysis of Chittenden County’s economy, a scorecard of measurable Indicators for success and a performance dashboard for the city of Burlington, VT. Statistics included in these reports do not provide up to date information about who has access to the internet, why or why not, and what barriers need to be addressed in order to improve access.
For example, the 2017 Broadband availability report I included in my slides show which buildings have access to broadband speeds, but no additional information about how that access is dispersed/used inside the building. And the internet connection report goes into more detail about internet access by household and income level, but the data is over 8 years old. After reviewing the metrics provided in the reports we agreed that in order to identify barriers to digital equity we will need accurate and current data.
“Data lets us drill down into how different kinds of sub groups from different backgrounds have different learning opportunities with the same freely available tools.” — Justin Reich
Next, I introduced several initiatives happening in various cities that increase Digital equity through services, programming, education, open data, advocacy and infrastructure. This was an opportunity to get inspiration and think about how we could build on existing models. Code For BTV, Common Good Vermont and Edu-net are three examples of local initiatives that provide support for individuals challenged by digital access.
As a group we reflected on the examples provided and brainstormed ideas for what we could focus on moving forward. I asked what our “big harry audacious goal” (BHAG) might be moving forward and more specifically what could this group collectively work toward moving forward?
There was a general consensus that we need more information in order to decide on a goal. Some suggestions were to develop a data security pan for BTV and to build alliances across existing initiatives. In a follow up survey the majority of respondents thought the next event should focus on internet usage statistics and data. I agree this is a good next step and will help us apply our effort in the best possible way.
In the coming weeks we will be following up with individuals and organizations that can help us dig deeper into the question of internet usage. As plans develop for the next event I look forward to exploring ways to build solutions, remove barriers and leverage existing resources. I am very grateful to Rights and Democracy VT, CCTV, Abbie and Sean for the planning, set-up and documentation.
The event was recorded and is available here:
