Residents Encouraged To Attend Bourne's Digital Equity Workshop
Bourne residents and community members are invited to participate in an upcoming workshop regarding digital equity in the Town of Bourne.
The town is working with the Cape Cod Commission to draft a municipal digital equity plan to improve internet access and accessibility for all. To that end, a local community workshop has been scheduled for Monday, November 13, at 6 PM to hear feedback, thoughts and concerns.
According to a recent news release from the town, the joint planning effort with the commission will help the Town of Bourne understand the community’s needs and identify where additional resources are needed. Community participation is a critical component of this planning effort, the release said, and members of the community are encouraged to attend the upcoming community workshop to share thoughts and concerns.
The workshop will take place at the Bourne Veterans Memorial Community Center on Main Street in Buzzards Bay. While in-person attendance is preferred, a virtual option is available and can be found on the Cape Cod Commission’s website at https://www.capecodcommission.org/our-work/bourne-digital-equity-plan/.
Digital equity efforts such as this seek to ensure that all members of a community have the same access to the information technology typically needed for full participation in today’s society, democracy and economy, along with the skills to use it. These efforts focus on bridging the gap of affordability of internet service and devices, building skills on program use and equipment across demographics of communities, increasing trust, and overcoming language or other barriers that keep individuals from participating fully.
The Town of Bourne’s Municipal Digital Equity Plan is intended to assess the digital divide in Bourne and identify opportunities to advance digital equity. The plan will consider the affordability of internet service, access to technology necessary for participation in civic, social and economic life, and the skills required for meaningful digital engagement, the town’s release said. Once finalized, the Municipal Digital Equity Plan will prepare Bourne for funding opportunities and help guide decision making, investment and implementation regarding information technology.
This project is funded by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute at the MassTech Collaborative under the Municipal Digital Equity Planning Program. Funding was provided by Massachusetts ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Funds. For more information, visit the Cape Cod Commission’s website.