“New Hampshire is a national leader when it comes to deploying critical resources targeted at increasing access to reliable, high-speed internet services. We look forward to identifying new opportunities to bridge the digital divide and connect Granite Staters with the digital economy.”
- Taylor Caswell, Commissioner of the NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs.
Help Shape New Hampshire’s Digital Future
New Hampshire is in the process of developing New Hampshire’s Digital Equity Plan, which aims to connect residents statewide with access to high-speed internet, digital devices, training, and a host of services and resources made possible through digital technology (e.g., telehealth, on-line educational resources, mobile banking, assistive technologies, etc.). The plan places emphasis on unserved or underserved populations, including aging individuals, veterans, racial and ethnic minorities, English learners, individuals with disabilities, those currently or recently incarcerated, rural residents, and veterans. The goal is to foster economic and educational opportunity, healthcare access, civic engagement, and other outcomes.
The planning partners from UNH Cooperative Extension, the National Collaborative for Digital Equity, and METRO’s Digital Equity Research Center are in the process of collecting public input for the plan, which will be supported by $5 million/year in federal implementation funds. Below are multiple ways that you can help shape New Hampshire’s digital future:
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New Hampshire residents can take a survey by October 17. Your feedback will help us understand barriers to Internet access, affordability, and adoption. To take the survey online, go to: https://bit.ly/NHdigitalequitysurvey You can also download and print a copy to share with someone without Internet access. Paper copies can be scanned and emailed to derc@metro.org or postmarked and mailed to:
University of New Hampshire Extension
c/o Michael Polizzotti
59 College Road
Taylor Hall
Durham, NH 03824
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Add your organization to the statewide Asset Inventory if you or your organization provide any digital-equity related services/resources/programs targeting unserved or underserved populations, such as providing broadband access, free/discounted devices, tech support, or digital literacy and cybersafety skill-building. This information will be used to support the distribution of federal funding and the implementation of the Digital Equity Plan. Add your organization to the Inventory
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Join us for the Virtual NH Brownbag Lunch & Learn Conversation on Digital Equity on Wednesday October 4th Noon-1:00PM. In this interactive brainstorming conversation, we will explore together local and regional digital divide priorities you most want NH’s plan to address, using up to $5 million/year for four years starting in 2024. You can register for this Zoom conversation at link.
- Join us for the New Hampshire Summit on Digital Equity on Thursday, October 19th 9:00-11:30AM: In this mission-critical in-person meeting at the NH Municipal Association’s conference center at 25 Triangle Park Drive in Concord, participants will review and recommend improvements needed in NH’s draft four-year plan for digital equity in support of economic and educational opportunity, healthcare access, civic engagement, and other important inclusion outcomes. We urge you to register soonest as space is limited. You can register online here or by calling 1-802-249-1159.
