All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico are currently working on digital equity plans. As they release draft plans seeking public feedback, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society is sharing summaries focused on how states define their digital divides and their vision for reaching digital equity.

The Colorado Office of the Future of Work's Digital Equity Team released the Colorado Digital Access Plan for public comment. The plan includes a vision, mission and values that honor Coloradans and their unique needs and assets. People are at the center of Colorado’s digital inclusion work and in every section of the plan. With this in mind, feedback from the public can be submitted until January 19, 2024.

The Digital Equity Team identified six objectives to increase digital equity for all Coloradan communities:

1. Locally led digital inclusion programs: Colorado communities are empowered to implement digital inclusion programs and initiatives prioritizing their community’s needs.
2. Availability and affordability of internet subscriptions: All Coloradans can access affordable broadband service at home.
3. Accessibility and inclusivity of public resources: All Coloradans can access needed online resources.
4. Digital literacy: All Coloradans have the skills and confidence to navigate digital tools and systems and the support to expand their skills.
5. Online privacy and cybersecurity: All Coloradans can protect their online information and understand how to prevent security breaches.
6. Availability and affordability of devices: All Coloradans can access and afford web-enabled devices to accomplish what they need to do online.

Colorado's Vision for Digital Equity

The vision, mission, and values for Colorado’s Digital Access Plan were created collaboratively by the Digital Equity Committee and the Digital Equity Working Group members and approved by most participants from both groups.

Vision

Colorado's vision for digital equity is:  Every Coloradan has the connectivity, devices, and skills they need to thrive in our digital society and economy by 2028.

Mission

With a focus on building community partnerships, Colorado’s Digital Access Plan will create a roadmap for implementing programs, policies, and funding. This roadmap will help ensure people who have been marginalized and those who lack connectivity, devices, skills, or familiarity will have the opportunity to cross the digital divide. We want everyone to be able to access the incredible benefits of our digital society and economy.

Values

Through collaboration, cooperation, and partnerships, Colorado’s Digital Access Plan seeks to build a statewide community to achieve digital equity and parity for all Coloradans while uplifting the following values:

• Opportunity to Thrive: The Digital Access Plan creates robust opportunities for individuals to engage in digital activities, which empowers all Coloradans to reach their full potential and achieve their digital goals.
• Participation: The Digital Access Plan values active participation and engagement, creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and respected, regardless of background, identity, or abilities. It envisions a Colorado where everyone’s voice is heard, diverse perspectives are embraced and valued, and everyone is treated with dignity, empathy, and respect.
• Creativity and Choice: The Digital Access Plan encourages and celebrates creativity. It recognizes creativity as a catalyst for innovation and problem-solving and for inspiring new ideas and approaches to address digital inequities. By supporting and promoting the freedom to make informed choices and respecting individual preferences and autonomy, the Digital Access Plan ensures the diverse needs of all Coloradans will be met.
• Equity: Advocating for fairness and justice in all digital equity-related activities, the Digital Access Plan ensures everyone has digital access to pursue the opportunities and resources that enrich their lives.
• Resilience: The Digital Access Plan promotes resilience by cultivating the strength and ability to adapt to changes in technology. This, in turn, empowers individuals and communities to overcome obstacles and thrive in the face of adversity.
• Sustainability: By prioritizing programmatic and fiscal sustainability, the Digital Access Plan acknowledges the interdependence between the different dimensions of digital equity. The plan works toward a balanced and regenerative future with digital equity for all Coloradans.
• Accountability: The Digital Access Plan values the power of data-driven decision-making. It uses accurate and reliable information to gain insights, drive innovation, and inform strategies and actions. The plan also embraces accountability and ensures transparency, integrity, and ethical conduct in data-related endeavors.

The values emphasize the plan's focus on the people who will ultimately be most impacted by its implementation. Empowering Coloradans to engage fully in every aspect of their lives is the goal of the Colorado Digital Access Plan.

Covered Populations and Barriers to Digital Equity

Those in covered populations make up roughly 72 percent of Colorado’s total population of 5,758,736, with racial and ethnic minority populations and rural populations making up the largest covered populations within the state.

While each covered population has unique needs, there is a great deal of intersectionality, or people falling into more than one category, across the covered populations. Results of the Statewide Digital Equity Survey reveal several significant intersections:

• 21 percent of respondents identifying as older adults also identified as veterans.
• 66 percent of respondents who identified as being veterans also identified as older adults.
• Of respondents who identified as being individuals with disabilities:
  • 41 percent identified as being older adults.
  • 40 percent identified as being members of racial or ethnic minority groups.
  • 39 percent identified as living in households with limited financial resources.
• Of respondents who identified as members of racial or ethnic minority groups, 45 percent also identified as living in households with limited financial resources.
• Of respondents identifying as being unhoused, 61 percent also identified as being members of racial or ethnic minority groups.

Immigrants

Although understanding the digital inclusion assets and barriers of immigrants is not required by the Digital Equity Act legislation, the Colorado Digital Equity Team sought to gain a better understanding of the experience of immigrants in Colorado for several reasons. One in 10 Coloradans is an immigrant. Thirteen Colorado counties and the City and County of Denver have adopted some form of “sanctuary” policy. There is no single definition for a sanctuary city or county. Instead, a city or county’s cooperation with federal immigration officials is limited in some way, without impeding them from performing their immigration enforcement duties. For example, a sanctuary city may not allow immigration detention centers to operate there, or they may disallow state or local police being deputized to enforce federal immigration policy.

Like other covered populations, the immigrant population in Colorado is not homogenous. The American Community Survey finds that 16.3 percent of Coloradans speak a language other than English at home, and of those, Spanish is the most spoken language. However, immigrants and refugees in Colorado speak African, European, and Latin American languages—this is highlighted by the 19 different languages in which the Statewide Digital Equity Survey was taken.

They represent diverse cultures from around the world. There is considerable overlap between immigrants, those with a language barrier, and racial and ethnic minorities. For example, in the Statewide Digital Equity Survey, immigrants comprised 39 percent of the racial and ethnic minority group and 63% of those with limited English proficiency. Yet while Colorado immigrants may share some characteristics, such as language barriers and racial and ethnic minority identities, with other covered populations, the Digital Equity Team acknowledges additional barriers to digital equity for immigrants that are not the same.

Connection with family members is vital for immigrants and refugees who have left family in their home countries that are often politically unstable. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that “unemployment, poor socioeconomic conditions, and lack of social integration among migrants and refugees are risk factors for mental health conditions such as depression. At the same time, these stressors can also exacerbate pre-existing social and mental health problems” for migrants and refugees. “Protective factors” WHO lists to help mitigate trauma, all of which can be supported by digital inclusion interventions, include:

• Access to employment.
• Social support.
• Proficiency in the language of the host country.
• Access to education.
• Improved socioeconomic status.
• Contact with family.

Of immigrant respondents to the Statewide Digital Equity Survey, 22 percent report having a desktop at home compared to 30 percent of all respondents. 28 percent reported only having access to a smartphone (compared to 15 percent of respondents overall). Additionally, Sixty-two percent of immigrants responding to the Statewide Digital Equity Survey reported the internet is too expensive. Cybersecurity and awareness around staying safe online are issues for Coloradans generally; however, for immigrants responding to the Statewide Digital Equity Survey, 56 percent were unfamiliar with measures needed to stay safe online or didn’t know what cybersecurity meant. Listening sessions with communities across Colorado revealed those with language barriers feel particularly vulnerable to cybersecurity threats. Some shared they felt immigrants establishing their life in the U.S. are targets for scam attempts, yet instructions on how to protect themselves online are typically in English only.

Older Adults

Of the adults aged 60+ who responded to the Colorado Health Access Survey, 8 percent stated they do not have home internet service. The primary reason given for the lack of internet service at home is it isn’t available in their area. Listening sessions with older adults confirmed intersections between older adults and individuals with disabilities. Digital Equity Committee stakeholders shared older adults have described physical challenges in operating devices, including tremors and poor eyesight. Knowing how to use accessibility options would make using devices much easier for this population. Listening sessions with older adults also provided insight into transportation barriers, making it difficult for older people to get to places with safe, reliable internet.

According to the Colorado Health Access Survey, confidence in the internet among older adults is lower than the average for Colorado. Older adults requested training programs tailored to their needs during listening sessions. For example, some participants reported when younger people help them, they “don’t teach or show how to do things — they just do it for us.” Programs showing older adults how to troubleshoot a technology-related problem, programs designed for non-technical people to understand, and programs with printed materials all came up as needs in the listening sessions.

Older adults, especially those living in households with limited financial resources, cited the affordability of internet services as a barrier to access. In responses to the Colorado Health Access Survey, 44 percent of older adults stated a lack of eligibility for not participating in a discounted internet service program. From listening sessions, some older adults reported being “poor, but just not poor enough to qualify for things like ACP.”

Justice-Involved Individuals

Due to time constraints, the Digital Equity Team could not create a research plan that accounted for directly surveying and interviewing incarcerated individuals. However, stakeholder conversations, secondary research, and listening sessions with individuals who were previously incarcerated helped inform barriers to access for this covered population and identified several unique challenges.

Many prisons in Colorado have limited broadband access, which reduces opportunities for incarcerated individuals. While the Colorado Department of Corrections is prioritizing the expansion of connectivity throughout its facilities to improve access to telehealth, behavioral health services, and educational opportunities, there are funding and infrastructure challenges. Digital Equity Committee stakeholders shared that even when there is connectivity, cultural barriers make it difficult for incarcerated individuals to access the internet. For example, needing to supervise people incarcerated using the internet can be a reason not to provide them access, and devices and access to connectivity in prisons are sometimes considered a reward rather than a right by staff and leadership.

Both men and women who are incarcerated experience a severe lack of training opportunities in digital skills. This results in a large national prison population (7.8 million) ill-prepared for the challenges of reentry into a society that relies on technology for nearly every aspect of life. A survey conducted in Sterling Correctional Facility provides insight into this in Colorado. Of 150 people who completed the survey, roughly 32 percent reported they were not confident using a computer or the internet, and 38 percent did not feel confident using a smartphone. Those who were more confident using technology had spent less time incarcerated in Sterling Correctional Facility and were younger. For computer use, the data showed white incarcerated people were more confident than those belonging to a racial or ethnic minority group.

Members of Racial and Ethnic Minorities

According to the 2023 Colorado Health Access Survey, 7 percent of Latines lack internet service at home, compared to only 4 percent of Coloradans on average. Only about 21 percent of Black or African American and Latine respondents to the Statewide Digital Access Survey report having a desktop computer at home compared to 37 percent of white respondents. Regarding home internet service, all respondents belonging to a racial and ethnic minority group reported less home internet service than respondents overall and compared to white respondents.

Fifty-seven percent of Latine respondents cite the lack of affordability as the reason they don’t have home internet access, as opposed to 47 percent of white respondents. Even so, nearly double the percentage of members of the Latine community (17 percent) compared to white respondents (9.9 percent) stated lack of understanding of how to apply for a discounted internet service program as the reason for not participating.

More respondents to the Statewide Digital Access Survey belonging to racial and ethnic minorities reported less familiarity with cybersecurity measures (91%) than respondents as a whole (82%) and white respondents (72%). Tribal members and American Indian/Alaska Native respondents reported high awareness and implementation of parental controls for children; however, less than 52% of Asian, Black, and Middle Eastern/North African respondents reported awareness of cybersecurity measures. Roughly 17 percent of Asian and Middle Eastern/North African respondents reported not knowing what cybersecurity means (more than six percentage points higher than racial and ethnic minorities as a group).

While racial and ethnic minority respondents seem relatively comfortable setting up parental controls to monitor a child’s access online, there are differences between groups. For example, according to the Statewide Digital Equity Survey, roughly 32 percent of Asian and Middle Eastern/North African respondents reported being comfortable with setting up these controls, compared to 51 percent of racial and ethnic minorities as a group. All racial and ethnic minority respondents reported being less comfortable or unfamiliar with making appointments online compared to white respondents (34% vs 19%), which was highest for Asian respondents at 38 percent.

Veterans

More veterans, 6.5 percent, compared to all respondents, 4.3 percent, report to the Colorado Health Access Survey lack of internet service at home, with nearly 15 percent stating the primary reason is internet service is unavailable in their area.

There are potential training needs in using social media, online job search, and applying for jobs online among veterans. This is based on a significantly lower percentage of veterans responding they use the internet for these activities compared to all responses regarding the uses of the internet on the Colorado Health Access Survey. Among all Coloradans who responded:

• 78.3 percent report using the internet to access social media compared to 59.1 percent of veterans.
• 42.4 percent report using the internet to search for jobs (24.9 percent for veterans).
• 32.6 percent apply online for employment as compared to 18.2 percent for veterans.

From the listening sessions, a facilitator felt “the veterans especially had a few people who were struggling financially and personally with health issues that seemed to block their ability to get connected.” However, only 4.4 percent of veterans, compared to 6.3 percent of all Colorado Health Access Survey respondents, reported awareness of discount programs for internet service at home. Among that 4.4 percent, 42 percent cited ineligibility as the reason they do not participate.

Rural Residents

Unfortunately, much of Colorado’s rural population still lacks adequate access to digital infrastructure, and rural residents experience limited resources and reliable internet services. Almost more than triple the percentage of rural residents, 10 percent, report no home internet access as compared to 3.4 percent in urban areas. The top two reasons cited were lack of affordability, 44 percent, and lack of availability, 41 percent. Less than half of that percentage of respondents in urban areas, 20.6 percent, cite lack of internet service availability as the reason they don’t have it in their homes.

Rural residents are less likely to use the internet for:

• Accessing telemedicine (36 percent).
• Searching for employment (30.3 percent).
• Applying for employment (21.2 percent).

By comparison, Coloradans who live in urban areas responded to the Colorado Health Access Survey, accessing the internet for telemedicine at 51.9 percent, searching for jobs at 44.4 percent, and applying for them at 34.4 percent.

Interestingly, there were slightly more rural Coloradans aware of programs offering discounted internet service in rural areas, 6.7 percent, than the average response of 6.3 percent. Still, about 10 percent more respondents in rural areas reported a lack of awareness of these programs than their urban counterparts. Only 34.5 percent said lack of eligibility as a reason for not participating, compared to 48 percent of all respondents.

The Colorado Health Access Survey indicates rural Coloradans are more concerned about information collected online than all respondents. Among all responses to the survey, 30.3 percent reported they strongly agreed when asked about their concerns with cybercrime and cybersecurity threats. Among rural residents who “strongly agree,” that percentage was significantly higher at 74.1 percent. In listening sessions with rural residents, participants shared a feeling of insecurity in cybersecurity knowledge. They talked about how hard it is to keep educated and up-to-date, particularly for those who don’t know how to use technology.

Individuals with Disabilities

The Colorado Health Access Survey indicates individuals with disabilities are more likely not to have the internet at home (9% compared to 4% of the general Colorado population). In addition, in listening sessions with individuals with disabilities, participants shared challenges navigating websites due to color contrast and small fonts. Visual cues can be muddled, with colors overlapping submit buttons. Screen reader users say long text makes looking for information too time-consuming. For the deaf, websites are written in full English and don’t consider some deaf people’s first language to be American Sign Language and English as their second language.

According to the 2023 Colorado Health Access Survey (CHAS), Coloradans with disabilities are more than twice as likely to lack internet at home than the general population, with 72 percent reporting it is too expensive. Part of the reason for not having internet at home is due to the cost of devices for more than 22,000 Coloradans with disabilities; 33 percent of people with disabilities reported this as an issue for them compared to 18 percent for the general Colorado population. Those with disabilities are more likely to be enrolled in an internet subsidy program. For those who are not enrolled, 59 percent reported it was because they didn’t know it existed, and 21 percent said it was because they didn’t know how to apply.

Seventy-five percent of Coloradans with a disability are confident in using the internet compared to 90 percent of the general population. This can lead to difficulties navigating the internet for needed services, such as financial or staying connected to loved ones. Roughly 72 percent of Coloradans with a disability are estimated to use the internet for paying bills or online banking compared to 85 percent of Coloradans without a disability. Less than 80 percent use the internet to communicate with family and friends compared to 92 percent of the general population.

Coloradans with disabilities are less likely to feel confident knowing how to keep information safe and secure (57% versus 72% of the general population). In addition, 53 percent of those with a disability are concerned they wouldn’t know how to resolve a cybersecurity incident, versus 40% of Coloradans without a disability. Participants in listening sessions said internet safety classes would benefit the community. According to the CHAS, of the more than 74,000 individuals with disabilities in Colorado, 15 percent do not have internet at home because of concerns about privacy online. In listening sessions with this covered population, a group member without internet access explained they did not want internet access because they did not know much about it and didn’t want to give away any sensitive personal information accidentally.

Covered Households

Colorado Futures Center reported in 2020:

• Two-thirds of children living without internet are Hispanic.
• 49 percent of children without internet access are in elementary school.
• 52 percent of children without the internet live in households earning less than $50,000.
• 25 percent of children without the internet live in households earning less than $25,000.

The primary reason people in households with limited financial resources are not connected to the internet at home is the lack of affordable devices and internet service. Among all respondents who stated they do not have internet service at home, 52 percent cite a lack of affordability. This was almost 10 percent higher among those respondents who identified as low income at 61 percent. However, nearly triple the percentage of respondents with low incomes reported awareness of discounted internet service programs, 17.1 percent, compared to 6.3 percent of all respondents. Among those not enrolled, 52.2 percent of respondents with low incomes cite a lack of awareness of these programs, and 30 percent cite ineligibility.

Less income to pay for basic expenses requires many Coloradans to deprioritize costs like internet service and a laptop or desktop computer. Another issue that impacts access is availability. Among respondents to the Colorado Health Access Survey who identify as low-income, almost 18 percent cite a lack of internet service availability in their area as a reason for not having internet service in their home. In addition, 65.4 percent of respondents with limited financial resources cite a lack of affordability, and 33.5 percent report the cost of devices to access the internet is out of reach for them. A lower percentage of all survey respondents report a lack of affordability of the service and the devices as reasons for not adopting the service or having access to devices at 52 and 18 percent, respectively.

Many Coloradans—disproportionately individuals experiencing homelessness, individuals with limited English proficiency, and immigrants—only have a smartphone to access the internet at home. In listening sessions conducted by Skills2Compete, individuals from households with limited financial resources reported they often didn’t have sufficient data in their low-cost plans to participate in video meetings or to attend classes, for example.

Almost 15 percent more respondents with limited financial resources reported they use the internet to seek information about public or government programs than all respondents at 39.7 percent and 25 percent, respectively. These CHAS responses may indicate a need for digital skills training in using the internet for activities not being done online by residents with limited financial resources. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports 8.7 percent of people who have incomes below the poverty level report severe psychological distress. For households with limited financial resources, the need for trauma-informed skills instruction, device access, online opportunities for physical and mental health care, and other supports cannot be overstated.

Individuals with a Language Barrier

For the Statewide Digital Equity Survey, individuals with limited English proficiency made up 48 percent of the respondents identifying as immigrants. Unique challenges faced by English-speaking, U.S.-born individuals with under-literacy were identified as well. This includes services and resources that assume strong literacy skills among all Americans, leading to increased shame and exclusion for this population. Different techniques are required for different types of language learning. For example, someone with dyslexia, ADHD, or other barriers to literacy will require different instruction from someone learning to speak English as a second language.

Digital Equity Committee stakeholder conversations revealed access to devices and broadband can be problematic for many individuals with language barriers. The 2023 Colorado Health Access Survey estimates those who speak a language other than English at home were almost twice as likely to lack internet at home. While most people have smartphones, transitioning to other devices can be more challenging. Survey data seems to support this – the CHAS indicates 22 percent of the 74,000 households lacking internet at home feel they can accomplish everything they need with their smartphone. Roughly 15 percent of Statewide Digital Equity Survey respondents with limited English proficiency reported having a desktop at home – the lowest of any other covered population group surveyed. Digital Equity Committee stakeholders shared that many individuals in this group rely on their children for technical assistance and translation, including tasks like setting up keyboards or adjusting interface settings to their preferred language.

Of the covered populations surveyed in the Statewide Digital Equity Survey, those with limited language proficiency are the least informed about the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Additionally, 50 percent of respondents with limited language proficiency indicated they do not know how to apply for ACP. Disproportionately, individuals who are experiencing homelessness, individuals with limited English proficiency, and immigrants — have only a smartphone to access the internet at home.

Respondents to the Statewide Digital Equity Survey who self-identified as having limited English proficiency reported less confidence in cybersecurity practices than all respondents, such as deleting cookies on a web browser and setting up protections against phishing and spam email. In addition, 23 percent of respondents with limited English proficiency reported not being familiar with setting up controls to monitor a child’s access online, compared to 12 percent of all respondents.

Implementation Strategy and Objectives

To address the needs of Coloradans and covered populations in the state, the Digital Equity Team will implement several strategies to increase digital access. Below are the strategies, activities and key performance indicators (KPIs) included in the draft Digital Access Plan.

Strategy 1: Create Colorado’s digital equity ecosystem

Objective: All communities are empowered to implement digital inclusion programs and initiatives that prioritize the local needs of their community.

KPIs:

• Number of regional digital inclusion coalitions.
• Number of regional digital access plans.
• Number of national and foundation partnerships to sustain digital inclusion efforts in Colorado.

Activity 1.1: Support the creation of Regional Digital Inclusion Coalitions to build local capacity for advancing digital inclusion across the state.

• Creating a formula-based funding opportunity for regional digital inclusion coalitions. This will allow for developing community-led digital access plans that meet community or regional stakeholders’ needs. Coalition plans will be reviewed for sustainability.
• Creating a community of practice for coalition members to share best practices.
• Reducing barriers to funding for smaller organizations that lack the capacity to apply for and manage federal grants.

Activity 1.2: Support the creation and implementation of Regional Digital Equity Plans to empower communities to address digital inclusion according to their needs and using locally relevant solutions.

• Regional Digital Equity Partnership Coordinators will assist coalitions in implementing their Regional Digital Equity Plans.
• Regional Digital Equity Plans will align with state digital inclusion priorities and the Colorado Digital Access Plan.

Activity 1.3: Build a network of funders of digital inclusion work in Colorado to support the sustainability of digital inclusion work. This network will include state agencies, state and national foundations, and other organizations.

• Potential funding sources will be identified and shared with coalitions.
• Funders will be connected to relevant coalitions or coalition members and invited to share their resources at community of practice meetings.

Activity 1.4: Create a digital inclusion innovation lab within the Office of the Future of Work that includes higher education and community-based organizations to connect digital inclusion research and practice. This will involve:

• The hiring of a Digital Inclusion Innovation Lab manager to build a portfolio and strategy to support the field
• Creation of a community of practice for digital inclusion practitioners.
• The establishment of a process for testing new and redesigned technology tools and digital inclusion interventions, including user testing.

Activity 1.5: Map Digital Inclusion Partners in Colorado

Aligning with the values created collaboratively by the Digital Equity Working Group and approved by the DEWG and Digital Equity Committee means identifying creative, sustainable, and resilient solutions. The state’s plans for building a digital equity ecosystem will require active participation by diverse stakeholders in rural, urban, and mountain areas across Colorado. Thus, the Digital Equity Team has begun turning the Asset Map attached in the draft Digital Access Plan into a dashboard to analyze, record, and track the digital inclusion network in Colorado.

The goal of this work, done in partnership with Visible Network Labs, is to leverage network science methods to strengthen the digital inclusion ecosystem and make it easier to share best practices, find relevant partners, and communicate. This will lead to better resource sharing and will improve the sustainability of this work. Additionally, the Colorado Digital Equity Team plans to execute another contract with Visible Network Laps to launch surveys and incorporate relational data between partners.

Strategy 2: Improve the affordability of home internet subscriptions

Objective: All Coloradans can access affordable broadband service at home.

KPIs:

• Number of eligible Coloradans enrolled in ACP and Lifeline.
• Number of individuals with limited financial resources and rural Coloradans enrolled in ACP and Lifeline.
• Percentage of immigrants and racial and ethnic minorities reporting the internet is too expensive.

Activity 2.1: Promote participation in internet discount and subsidy programs through targeted community outreach and assistance with enrollments, particularly for individuals with limited financial resources and rural households and in areas of Colorado where enrollment is low but eligibility is high.

Activity 2.2: Work with the Colorado Broadband Office on future programming that supports home internet affordability.

Activity 2.3: Work with the Colorado Broadband Office and its Colorado Broadband Map to identify gaps in broadband services for covered populations.

Strategy 3: Embed digital inclusion activities into state efforts to promote online accessibility and inclusivity.

Objective: All Coloradans can access needed online resources.

KPI:

• Number of partnerships with state agencies implementing HB21-1110––legislation requiring accessibility for all technology, hardware, and software that is both public-facing and internal-facing, including websites, applications, kiosks, digital signage, documents, video, audio, and third-party tools.

Activity 3.1: Leverage efforts to implement HB21-1110 to include language accessibility in all state technology assets.

Activity 3.2: Increase Digital Equity Team engagement in existing state agency meetings and initiatives and encourage state agencies to use the Digital Competency Framework to assess their organization’s digital inclusion competencies.

Activity 3.3: Collect and share data on digital access for covered populations with other Colorado state agencies, such as Colorado Medicaid, the Department of Human Services, and more, on an ongoing basis. This will inform their outreach and enrollment strategies for public resources.

Strategy 4: Promote initiatives and programs that build digital skills.

Objective: All Coloradans have the skills and confidence to navigate digital tools and systems and the support to expand their skills.

KPIs:

• Number of individuals reporting they can accomplish an online task following an appointment with a digital navigator.
• Percentage of covered populations who report feeling confident using the internet, particularly those with a disability, older adults, and incarcerated individuals.

Activity 4.1: Collaborate with the Department of Local Affairs to embed digital skills into what it means to be a resilient community as part of its Resiliency Hubs initiative.

Activity 4.2: Leverage the Digital Navigator Program to expand access to lessons learned on implementing local digital navigator programs.

• Provide digital skills training and access to resources for covered populations, focusing on resources for online financial literacy, particularly for households with limited financial resources, those with disabilities, and older adults.

Activity 4.3: Explore the potential to leverage other types of navigators (community health workers, career navigators, etc.) to direct covered populations to needed resources for digital access.

• Increase adoption of telehealth, particularly for households with limited financial resources, those with a language barrier, Latine individuals, and rural individuals.

Activity 4.4: Provide digital navigation best practices for businesses, state agencies, faith organizations, and nonprofits providing public-facing technical support to customers.

• Work specifically with workforce centers on improving awareness of online job markets for veterans, older adults, and rural individuals.

Strategy 5: Promote initiatives that improve confidence in deploying cybersecurity measures.

Objective: All Coloradans can protect their online information and understand how to prevent security breaches.

KPI:

• Percentage of those confident they can keep themselves safe online, particularly individuals with disabilities, older adults, and those with a language barrier.

Activity 5.1: Support the Consumer Protection section of the Department of Law on the Colorado Privacy Act and cybersecurity initiatives.

Activity 5.2: Leverage the Digital Navigator Program to provide tools, training, and educational resources related to online privacy and cybersecurity, particularly for individuals with disabilities, individuals identifying as Black, Latine, Asian, or Middle Eastern/North African, older adults, and those with a language barrier.

• This will include ensuring training and educational resources are available in a multitude of languages.

Strategy 6: Explore a statewide ecosystem of device refurbishers, technical support for devices, and recycling to increase device availability and affordability.

Objective: All Coloradans can access and afford web-enabled devices to accomplish what they need to do online.

KPIs:

• Percentage of identified covered populations reporting using smartphones only at home, particularly individuals with a language barrier, immigrants, and households with limited financial resources.
• Number of Colorado-based refurbishers providing low-cost devices to individuals.
• Number of donations secured with CRA funds via financial institutions.

Activity 6.1: Identify opportunities to increase access to device refurbishment training for incarcerated people, community college students, and other covered populations.

Activity 6.2: Explore CRA opportunities by encouraging device donations from financial institutions.

Activity 6.3: Develop and implement a statewide outreach plan to solicit device donations to existing refurbishers and advertise the availability of refurbished devices, including on 2-1-1.

Colorado Wants to Hear From You

The deadline for public comments on the Colorado Office of the Future of Work's draft Digital Access Plan is January 19, 2024. Comments can be submitted and viewed in a variety of languages using the form links on the Office of the Future of Work's website.

More in this series:

• Connected and Empowered: A Digital Equity Plan for Pennsylvania
• Guiding Texas' Digital Opportunity Investments
• Florida's Roadmap for Closing the Digital Divide
• Creating Digital Opportunities in Nebraska
• Developing Digital Equity Solutions in Vermont
• Working Towards Digital Equity in DC
• Oregon's Plan for Meaningful Broadband Access
• Massachusetts' Unified Vision of Digital Equity
• Alaska's Plan to Address Broadband Adversity
• Georgia's Plan for Digital Connectivity
• In a New York State of Digital Equity
• A Plan for Digital Equity in Delaware
• Equity for the Digital Age: Maryland's Plan
• North Dakota's Collective Approach to Digital Equity
• A Plan for Connecting New Jersey
• Achieving a Digitally Inclusive Ohio
• A Digital Access Plan for All Idahoans
• Envisioning a Connected, Interconnected Alabama
• Missouri Pursues Sustainable Digital Opportunity Initiatives
• A Digital Equity Plan to Connect All Kansans
• South Dakota's Plan to Leverage Digital Equity to Reach Economic Goals
• Aloha Spirit Inspires Hawai'i Digital Equity Plan
• The Plan for Closing Nevada’s Digital Divide
• Wisconsin's Digital Equity Values
• ¡Su opinión cuenta! Puerto Rico Releases Initial Draft of Digital Equity Plan | ¡Su Opinión Cuenta! Puerto Rico Pública el Borrador Inicial del Plan de Equidad Digital
• Kentucky Pursues Full and Equitable Digital Access for All
• Tennessee Drafts a Digital Opportunity Plan
• Washington State Sets Digital Equity Goals
• West Virginia's Plan to Conquer the Digital Divide
• Wyoming Seeks Feedback on Digital Access Plan
• Communities Know Communities Best: Michigan's Digital Equity Plan
• Montana's Digital Opportunity Plan
• Achieving Digital Independence in Utah
• Maine's Vision of Digital Equity
• A Look at Louisiana's Draft Digital Equity Plan

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