The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Broadband Policy and Development (BPD) Office was created in 2023 with a commitment to addressing the internet infrastructure challenges in CNMI. Under this commitment, the CNMI BPD Office assumed the responsibility of spearheading CNMI's efforts to secure federal support, like the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's Digital Equity Capacity Grant, and coordinate the effective utilization of broadband funding for residents. On December 5, 2024, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) awarded the BPD Office over $2 million in Digital Equity Capacity funding to implement the CNMI Digital Equity Plan.

CNMI will use this funding to:

• Initiate discussions with telehealth and telecommunications providers to establish a robust telehealth network connecting Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and the Northern Islands; and
• Form a working group with at least one representative from each school district to assess the current Internet technology (IT) curriculum.

Here is a look at the full slate of implementation activities that the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands' BPD Office outlined in its plan.

The Benefits of Closing the Digital Divide

The BPD Office's Digital Equity Plan highlights the various ways in which the use of Digital Equity Act funding––and closing the digital divide as a result––impacts all the aspects of life for a CNMI resident, as well as how this funding interacts with other CNMI-wide goals and funding programs supporting those goals.

Health Outcomes

The Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation (CHCC) oversees a hospital, emergency department, three municipal health centers, the Community Guidance Center, the Division of Public Health, and various ancillary services. There are also five private clinics in CNMI. Residents in the territory have access to Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding. CHCC's mission is to deliver quality comprehensive health services and foster healthy environments for a resilient community, while its vision focuses on providing sustainable, innovative, equitable, and culturally responsive services for accessible, high-quality, patient-centered wellness outcomes.

The healthcare system is poised to introduce a patient portal and telehealth services to enhance patient access and convenience. In 2021, CHCC received a $522,722 Federal Communications Commission Telehealth COVID-19 Round 2 grant, facilitating the expansion of outpatient telemedicine services. This initiative particularly benefits patients on more remote islands, reducing the need for air travel and minimizing COVID-19 exposure. The potential for telehealth in behavioral mental health services is also recognized, with ongoing internet connectivity upgrades on the islands of Tinian and Rota. The BPD Office's Digital Equity Plan details an initiative to establish a telehealth network project to expand on this work and provide virtual healthcare to all residents.

Workforce Investment and Economic Development

The Northern Marianas Technical Institute (NMTech) is leveraging its existing infrastructure for workforce development to contribute to state digital equity planning and capacity building. With a mission to invest in students through advanced trades, career, and technical education, NMTech aims to produce skilled individuals, fortify the CNMI's workforce, and equip them with technical skills and core fundamentals for the evolving world.

Aligned closely with the State Digital Equity Plan, NMTech envisions technology as a pivotal tool to ensure full and equitable digital access for all individuals, businesses, and communities in the CNMI, fostering economic and personal opportunities. Through the Governor's Education Stabilization Funds (ESF-II), NMTech bolstered its infrastructure, strengthened its network infrastructure, and updated instructional technology in most of its instructional spaces. Positioned as a Community Anchor Institution, NMTech plans to extend services to neighboring islands like Rota and Tinian, providing technology access through workspaces or work pods for the general population.

Educational Outcomes

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Public School System (CNMI PSS) is the educational authority responsible for overseeing and managing public education in the Northern Mariana Islands. The CNMI PSS is leveraging its existing educational infrastructure to play a pivotal role in state digital equity planning and capacity building. In its commitment to digital equity, CNMI PSS provides access to devices and internet connectivity at all sites, coupled with digital literacy skill-building initiatives for students. Ongoing professional development for teachers and staff supports the integration of technology into education, while digital literacy training extends to parents. The program strives for equitable resource distribution, exemplified by its robust response during the Covid-19 pandemic. CNMI PSS facilitated Wi-Fi access through "Wi-Fi on wheels," transforming school buses into mobile hotspots. Collaborations with community organizations established "community Wi-Fi centers," and students in need received MiFi devices for remote learning.

Simultaneously, the CNMI PSS Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program is dedicated to inclusivity, offering diverse Career Clusters and Pathways. Integrating a rigorous and relevant curriculum with academics, the program forms high school and post-secondary partnerships leading to various degrees and pathways to employment. The emphasis on foundational, pathway, occupational, and 21st-century skills within its framework positions the program as a dynamic force in education.

The vision of the CTE Program is to produce College and Career Ready students, offering enhanced Career and Cluster Pathways, a rigorous and relevant academic curriculum, effective partnerships addressing high-growth industries, and a progressive 21st-century CTE Framework.

Essential Services

The CNMI Department of Public Safety (DPS) is dedicated to delivering top-tier public safety services, prioritizing community well-being, and striving to reduce crime rates in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Through collaborative partnerships with the community, stakeholders, and partners, DPS is committed to addressing challenges, ensuring visibility, and enhancing overall safety and quality of life. Key objectives include crime reduction, community engagement, a modern workforce, promotion of equality and diversity, fostering a culture of leadership, upholding integrity, and optimizing resource utilization for the benefit of the public.

Initiatives spearheaded by the CNMI DPS and CNMI Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management include workforce development, disaster response, and strategic planning for advanced communication systems, reflecting a forward-looking approach to evolving needs. Together, these efforts underscore a commitment to effective, inclusive, and responsive public safety and emergency management in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Civic and Social Engagement

Support CNMI is a collaborative coalition uniting public, private, and non-profit agencies with a shared goal of enhancing the network of social services for the community. The Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research, Extension, and Education Services (NMC-CREES) maintains this website. NMC's role as a conduit brings together service providers, agency representatives, and nonprofits to create a safety net and connect individuals with opportunities to improve their quality of life. The website provides easier access to navigate food, housing, medical, employment, emergency crisis assistance, health insurance, behavioral health, disability service, financial wellness, education, faith-based institutions, justice system, legal services, parental services, transportation, and youth services.

In addressing the fiscal crisis, the coalition's dedication to collective action, discussing coordination efforts and actively seeking additional funding. This involves leveraging local resources, despite their scarcity, and collaborating to secure more federal funds to benefit those most in need.

Implementation Timeline

This timeline provides a sequential plan for the BPD Office's Implementation Strategies and Key Activities Adjustments will be made based on specific circumstances, funding availability, and feedback received during the implementation process.

Year 1: June 2024 – May 2025

• Establish baseline data for all proposed objectives
• Establish MOAs with agency partners
• Establish working and advisory groups with partners collaborating on the Digital Equity Plan
• Plan initial meetings with partners to review and initiate the Digital Equity Plan and determine the next steps
• Begin collaboration with local agencies to digitally enhance and support emergency response services for vulnerable populations.
• Identify suitable locations for community anchor institutions (CAIs)
• Establish a working group for the telehealth network project
• Begin assessing infrastructure needs for the telehealth network
• Begin the assessment of the current information technology (IT)/computer science (CS) curriculum in collaboration with the public school system (PSS)

Year 2: July 2025 – May 2026

• Launch awareness campaigns and workshops for students and parents
• Initiate community outreach programs to raise awareness
• Develop the Digital Navigator Program
• Develop the comprehensive IT/CS core curriculum
• Develop procurement plans for telehealth devices for healthcare providers
• Conduct training programs for healthcare professionals on telehealth equipment
• Develop a standardized curriculum for technology centers
• Establish partnerships with local businesses for student projects

Year 3: June 2026 – May 2027

• Launch the telehealth literacy programs at technology centers
• Ensure connectivity and internet provision to all technology centers
• Start distributing telehealth devices to healthcare providers
• Initiate regular workshops and training sessions for educators
• Launch the Digital Navigator Program
• Conduct training programs for emergency responders and community members
• Collaborate with high schools to introduce specialized IT career paths
• Acquire infrastructure, equipment, and personnel for CAIs

Year 4: June 2027 – May 2028

• Ensure all digital equity programs and initiatives have been implemented

Year 5: June 2028 – May 2029

• Monitor and adjust all programs based on feedback; use data to ensure continuous quality improvement

Year 6: June 2029 – May 2030

• Monitor and evaluate the achievements in Year 5 and gauge progress toward overall goals and objectives
• Conduct surveys and engage in community conversations to assess the outcomes and impact of the Digital Equity Plan

CNMI's Commitment to Connecting All Residents

The CNMI BPD Office is unwavering in its commitment to rectifying substantial disparities in digital equity and in broadband equity, access, and deployment. The overarching objective is to establish a robust and sustainable broadband program, facilitating the formulation and realization of crucial action items. By 2030, the BPD Office's aim is to guarantee reliable internet access for all residents across the CNMI.

Additional Coverage on the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands' Broadband Priorities

• A Voyage to Digital Equity in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

See the latest Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands broadband news.

More in this Series

• When Will Nevada Implement Its Digital Equity Plan?
• Michigan Is on the Road to Closing the Digital Divide by 2030
• California Takes Steps Towards Digital Equity
• Digital Equity Funding Boosts Innovative Connectivity in Indiana
• Connecting Georgians with Digital Equity Capacity Funds
• Digital Equity Capacity in New Mexico
• Every Connecticuter Connected With Capacity Funds
• Securing Minnesota's Future with Digital Equity Capacity Funds
• ConnectingALL with Digital Equity Capacity Grant in New York
• Linking Alabama to Broadband With a Digital Equity Capacity Grant
• West Virginia's Digital Equity Timeline
• Montana Advances Opportunity with Digital Equity
• Maine Uses Digital Equity Capacity Funds to Ensure Communities Can Thrive
• Expanding Broadband Adoption in Wisconsin with Digital Equity Capacity Funds

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