Connecticut State Department of Administrative Services

Digital Equity

With support from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Commission for Educational Technology is leading a multi-year effort to design and implement a statewide Digital Equity Plan. The goal of this plan is to help ensure that all residents have access to and can utilize technology for learning, career advancement, leveraging State services, health and wellness, and overall participation in society. The Commission remains committed to helping all citizens access and use technology effectively, and the Digital Equity Program specifically prioritizes the following groups (in alphabetical order):

  • Aging
  • Incarcerated (State facilities)
  • Individuals at or below 150% poverty line
  • Individuals with disabilities
  • Individuals with language barriers
  • Members of a racial or ethnic minority group
  • Rural residents
  • Veterans

Your Input Needed

If your agency or organization provides any type of digital equity services or programs — helping residents get connected, equipped with a device, and trained — we want to hear from you. Please take a few minutes to complete the following survey, which will allow us to include your work in a statewide inventory of resources and allow us to reach you when capacity funds become available in 2024:

https://arcg.is/r0T9e1

 

 

Additional Resources

See the following resources for help in connecting and equipping Connecticut residents to engage fully in today’s digital society.

  • Affordable Connectivity Program (www.AffordableConnectivity.gov): Federal program that provides a credit up to $30 per month off Internet service for eligible residents — includes registration wizard, toll-free phone support, and multi-lingual outreach materials to share with residents.
  • Broadband Deployment (portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Energy/Broadband-Deployment): Progress toward universal access to affordable Internet, with resources for residents, partners, state leaders, and providers.
  • Broadband Mapping (BroadbandMaps.CT.gov): Office of Policy and Management’s frequently updated dashboard of Internet availability, town-level ACP enrollment, and more.
  • Digital Equity Toolkit: Provides a set of recommended steps and resources to help communities get students of all ages online outside of school, with access to high-quality devices and the skills to make the best use of these learning tools.
  • Connecticut Libraries and Partners for Digital Equity (sites.google.com/view/CTLibrariesPartnersDigEquity): Community of practice for libraries working to close the digital divide.
  • National Digital Inclusion Alliance (www.DigitalInclusion.org): Monthly training, toolkits, and best practices to support digital inclusion efforts.