The State of Pennsylvania requests resident feedback regarding two initiatives: the State Digital Equity Plan and the Commonwealth’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Five-Year Action Plan. According to a release, the two-week public comment period runs through March 10. The Authority plans to hold two meetings on March 16, to discuss the feedback that will help unserved and underserved areas.
“The Authority understands that different users have different needs, barriers, and preferences for engagement,” said Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority Executive Director Brandon Carson. “Feedback on our stakeholder engagement strategy and developing partnerships with communities, organizations, and individuals who are already doing this work is essential to our success.”
For The State Digital Equity Stakeholder Engagement Plan, the Authority will focus on “eight primary populations,” including:
- aging individuals
- incarcerated individuals
- Veterans
- individuals with disabilities
- English learners
- individuals with low levels of literacy
- individuals who are members of an ethnic or racial minority
- individuals living in rural areas
The Authority will also work to identify stakeholders to form a Digital Equity Stakeholder Engagement Panel to help inform and guide the plan’s implementation. The state is slated to receive $1.6 million from The State Digital Equity Planning Grant program. The (BEAD) Five-Year Action Plan will include digital equity and inclusion needs, goals, and implementation strategy.
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