Greenfield unveils municipal digital equity plan

GREENFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Following months of community engagement efforts, the City of Greenfield has published the first draft of its municipal Digital Equity Plan.

What the City is really trying to tackle right now is the inequity when it comes to access to internet access.

The plan is funded by a Massachusetts Broadband Institute grant and is part of the MBI’s ongoing commitment to providing affordable and reliable high-speed internet to every home in the state.

The City says that its Digital Equity Plan will help guide municipal decision-making and investments related to increasing access, adoption, and usage of the Internet for several groups within in the city, including seniors, low-income populations, and households where English is not the primary language.

“Digital equity is a systemic issue in our society, there’s many people who don’t have the access they need to digital technology,” said Greenfield Communications Director Matthew Conway. “And this is a 30-page document that really details step by step the route we can take to kind of curb the gap and make sure technology is available to all.”

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance said that digital equity is necessary for civic and cultural participation, employment, lifelong learning, and access to essential services. Greenfield is still welcoming final comments from the public until May 10th before the plan is submitted to the state for approval.

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Heath Kalb is a reporter who has been a part of the 22News team since 2022. Follow Heath on X @HeathKalb and view his bio to see more of his work.

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