Durham Strategic Plan Dashboard
Prosperity
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Initiative: 3.33 Create and recommend a digital inclusion roadmap for residents and provide equitable access to digital resources
Connected, Engaged, & Inclusive Communities
Description
This initiative aims to develop and implement a digital inclusion roadmap that strives to ensure that every resident of Durham is provided with access to or use of digital tools and services regardless of their background. The digital inclusion roadmap includes goals, objectives, and strategies regarding equitable digital access. The digital inclusion roadmap focuses on two key areas, stakeholder engagement and community engagement.
Key Measures & Data Analysis
The data on Households with No Internet Access was gathered during the implementation of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Unfortunately, the ACP funding ran out earlier this year and has not been renewed.
The loss of the (ACP) could have significant consequences for residents of Durham, NC, especially those already facing economic challenges. The Benton Institute's ACP Enrollment Performance Tool and Risk Score provide insights into the potential impact of the program's discontinuation.
The ACP Risk Score measures the likelihood of households losing internet connectivity if the ACP benefit ends. Scores are calculated based on socio-economic factors such as rent
Durham, NC, has areas with high ACP Risk Scores, suggesting that many residents are vulnerable to losing their internet access. This is particularly concerning given that internet connectivity is essential for various aspects of daily life, including education, work, and healthcare. Losing this connectivity could exacerbate existing inequalities and hinder opportunities for economic mobility and social inclusion (Benton Foundation).
The Benton Institute's data highlights that communities with higher rent burdens and lower incomes are more likely to rely on ACP subsidies. In Durham, these factors are prevalent in several neighborhoods, meaning the end of ACP could force many residents to choose between essential services and internet access, or potentially lose connectivity altogether (Benton Foundation).
Overall, the discontinuation of the ACP poses a substantial risk to the digital inclusion and economic stability of many Durham residents. Policymakers and community stakeholders will need to address these challenges to ensure continued access to affordable internet services.
Why is it important?
Empowering residents of the City of Durham with digital tools and resources ensures they have the necessary means for success. This is particularly crucial for individuals in under-resourced and under-represented communities, enabling them to broaden their access to digital resources, community programs, and services provided by the City, County, Durham Public Schools, and other community organizations.
What have we been doing?
The Digital Inclusion Program hired a Digital Inclusion & Community Engagement Manager and a Digital Inclusion Navigator. After completing hiring, the staff met with organizations in the community providing direct digital inclusion services to community members. The Digital Inclusion team held a mini retreat with DCM Winbush to share our team’s Vision, goals, objectives, and key talking points (see attached) for leadership. We also held a session about digital inclusion with the Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities, which has led us to reach out to more organizations to support digital inclusion efforts. In addition, we formally introduced our work to the current digital equity and inclusion ecosystem at the Digital Durham General Body Membership meeting and with minority business organizations at the National Institute of Minority Economic Development's Digital Equity Symposium.
We have drafted our FY25 team strategy, roles and responsibilities, and our first set of survey instruments to be deployed late summer and early fall.
In addition, we are recommending another ARPA grant in support of building the ecosystem and supporting digital inclusion efforts in Durham. This grant is to Digital Durham to
- Engage a program coordinator to review and analyze policies that support or hinder digital inclusion
- Update and implement the current Digital Equity Plan
- Continue to convene partners and expand the coalition of CBOs in the network
What's next?
Part of our engagement strategy is also about messaging and helping other organizations see themselves as part of the Digital Inclusion Ecosystem. So, we have been reaching out to other organizations, building on our brand as the City of Medicine, but also showing them how important having access to the internet, a device, and digital literacy supports their efforts to work in community.
Over the six to nine months, we will:
- Launch Annual Digital Literacy Asset Inventory Survey
- Execute ARPA contracts
- Launch survey to gauge city employee digital literacy and accessibility needs
- Create guidelines and standards for digital literacy programs in Durham
City Website Home Page: Durham, NC | Official Website (durhamnc.gov)
Budget Website Page: Budget & Management Services Department | Durham, NC (durhamnc.gov)
Budget and Management Services Department
Office of Performance and Innovation
Strategy and Performance Division