In October 2023, North Dakota released a draft Digital Equity Plan to the public for comment. According to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), 74 percent of North Dakotans belong to at least one of the eight covered populations most impacted by the digital divide. In the plan, the North Dakota Information Technology Department details how it will work towards digital equity for all North Dakotans. The public comment period for North Dakota's draft Digital Equity Plan closes today, November 30, 2023. 

North Dakota’s digital equity planning process is much like an orchestra: Digital inclusion efforts necessitate a collective, harmonious approach between local, state, Tribal, and municipal bodies, utilities, internet service providers (ISPs), workforce development organizations, training providers, and others to unpack and tackle this dynamic challenge.

North Dakota's Vision of Digital Equity

North Dakota's vision for digital equity is to empower every North Dakotan, from urban centers to the most remote regions of the state, with equitable digital access to be engaged with the opportunities of tomorrow.

Digital equity in the context of North Dakota is defined as every individual having broadband access, devices to use the internet, and the skills necessary to stay connected. In order to achieve success with respect to digital inclusion, North Dakota will deploy broadband throughout the state and address the many challenges that North Dakotans face with respect to accessing and using the internet. These hurdles include a lack of affordable options, digital skills, or user-friendly interfaces, among others.

North Dakota’s vision for digital equity is supported and enhanced by the vision and goals of the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program. Through the BEAD Program, the state will create a strong backbone for digital equity by building a network that enables all North Dakotans with affordable, reliable, high-speed internet to connect with the opportunities of tomorrow. The state's digital equity work will advance the BEAD vision by enabling all North Dakotans with access to the devices and digital skills necessary to take advantage of the digital world.

Covered Populations and Barriers to Digital Equity

According to North Dakota's plan, the three largest covered populations are individuals who primarily reside in a rural area (45%), aging individuals (21%), and individuals living in low-income households (18%). Additionally, some degree of geographic overlap exists between various covered populations. For example, the three counties with the highest proportion of low-income individuals also rank in the top three for the highest proportion of racial or ethnic minorities.

The estimated percentages of each covered population in North Dakota are as follows:

• Low-income individuals: 17.7 percent
• Aging individuals: 21.4 percent
• Incarcerated individuals: 0.2 percent
• Veterans: 7.7 percent
• Individuals with disabilities: 11.1 percent
• Individuals with a language barrier or low literacy: 1.9 percent
• Individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group: 15.1 percent
• Individuals who primarily reside in a rural area: 44.9 percent

North Dakota's draft Digital Equity Plan identifies seven overarching barriers to digital equity against the impacted covered population in North Dakota.

Barrier #1: Cost of Broadband Subscriptions

The cost of broadband subscriptions presents a significant barrier to digital equity in North Dakota. This issue impacts all of the state’s covered populations. It was identified as a barrier during the Low-Income, Disability Services, Veterans, and Rural Economic Development Focus Groups. Additionally, it was identified by stakeholders operating in the corrections space, supporting aging populations, serving individuals with disabilities, and higher education organizations.

While the Federal Communications Commission's Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) exists to offer discounts to qualifying households, these households must enroll in the program to realize the benefits. North Dakota’s ACP enrollment rate of 11 percent is well below the national average (34%), based on Education SuperHighway estimates. Although the exact causes of the low subscription rate in the state are unclear, they can be partially attributed to limited awareness of the program, the perception that the discounted cost still exceeds the value of broadband access, or both. Hence, the present cost of a broadband subscription coupled with low ACP enrollment rates remains a considerable challenge for North Dakota.

Barrier #2: Lack of High-Speed Broadband Infrastructure

The lack of high-speed broadband infrastructure is another challenge for digital equity, as it prevents certain areas of North Dakota from having access to the internet entirely. Western parts of the state have a higher number of unserved and underserved locations, particularly in counties that overlap with Tribal Lands. This data analysis aligned with the observations of multiple stakeholders. A participant in the Rural Economic Development Focus Group, an institution of higher education, and an organization representing ISPs all identified this barrier impacting individuals living in rural areas and individuals living on Tribal Lands. Additionally, a stakeholder in the Low-Income Focus Group identified infrastructure as a core challenge for low-income individuals, particularly the homeless population. Without this infrastructure, these individuals are automatically at a disadvantage with respect to achieving digital equity.

Barrier #3: Cost of Digital Devices

The cost of digital devices needed to access the internet poses an additional barrier to digital equity throughout the state for multiple covered populations. This barrier was corroborated by insights from stakeholders represented in the Low-Income, Senior Services, Disability Services, Veterans, and Rural Economic Development Focus Groups. While it is becoming increasingly accepted that broadband access is essential, it is equally important to have appropriate devices, such as computers, laptops, or smartphones, to connect to and utilize online resources. Unfortunately, these devices can be expensive, making them unaffordable for North Dakotan households with limited financial means. Outdated technology tends to excessively lag and often does not properly communicate with modern applications or online services, causing user-end frustration and furthering high-speed internet adoption hesitancy within the state. Some community centers and libraries offer short-term device-lending programs and a handful of programs in the state provide financial assistance for devices for low-income individuals, individuals with disabilities, and aging individuals. However, the cost associated with digital devices is still a significant hurdle.

Barrier #4: Lack of Digital Skills

The lack of digital skills represents an additional barrier to achieving widespread digital equity throughout North Dakota. While the state has made significant strides to expand broadband infrastructure, it remains crucial to ensure North Dakotans––especially covered populations––possess the requisite skills to effectively use and benefit from broadband services. Limited digital skills hinder broadband adoption by impeding individuals’ understanding of technology. This results in hesitancy and lack of confidence with respect to using digital tools, which ultimately affects access to and utilization of critical online resources (e.g., education, e-commerce, and telehealth). The digital skills gap is particularly pronounced for aging individuals, veterans, individuals with disabilities, racial/ethnic minorities, and individuals living in rural areas, as noted by numerous stakeholders (including those participating in the Veterans and Rural Economic Development Focus Groups, those promoting workforce development, those representing aging individuals, and an organization representing individuals with disabilities, including aging individuals with disabilities).

North Dakota has identified 21 digital skills and awareness programs that exist throughout the state. Several of the identified programs benefit the state’s population at
large, while a number of the programs specifically target one or more of the covered populations. A closer examination of the programs reveals the number of programs that benefit each covered population, as follows (note that more than one covered population may benefit from a program):

• Low-income individuals: 0 programs
• Aging individuals: 6 programs
• Incarcerated individuals: 1 program
• Individuals with disabilities: 5 programs
• Veterans: 0 programs
• Individuals with a language barrier or low literacy: 1 program
• Individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group: 1 program
• Individuals who primarily reside in a rural area: 4 programs

A critical component with respect to developing digital skills is an awareness of the benefits that come with broadband adoption. While North Dakota’s broadband infrastructure and availability have significantly improved over time, some underrepresented populations remain unaware of the benefits and opportunities that high-speed internet access offers. Limited awareness can prevent North Dakotans from understanding the positive impact broadband can have on communication, civic engagement, education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. According to stakeholders representing covered populations, North Dakotans who are unaware of the benefits have not prioritized adopting broadband or remain unmotivated to seek available options. Thus, the lack of digital skills amongst covered populations remains a considerable challenge.

Barrier #5: Lack of Cybersecurity Training and Awareness

The lack of cybersecurity training and awareness presents another barrier to achieving digital equity in North Dakota. As technology becomes increasingly integrated into various aspects of daily life, individuals within covered populations are often untrained in cybersecurity practices and may face heightened risks and vulnerabilities. Without proper cybersecurity training, individuals may fall prey to online scams, phishing attacks, identity theft, or other cyber threats. Additionally, a lack of awareness about safe online practices and the importance of securing personal information can lead to a reluctance to engage in digital activities, hindering access to critical online resources and services. While many of the digital skills and awareness programs identified in North Dakota's draft Digital Equity Plan may have cybersecurity as part of their curriculum, only four of those assets specifically identify cybersecurity as part of their labels/names.

According to the Senior Services Focus Group and an organization representing individuals with disabilities (including aging individuals with disabilities), the fear of scams amongst elderly North Dakotans and those with disabilities has resulted in a general unwillingness to engage in online activities. A stakeholder in the Disability Services Focus Group also identified cybersecurity concerns as a barrier for individuals with disabilities. The Rural Economic Development Focus Group identified cybersecurity concerns as a barrier to adoption that impacts individuals living in rural areas. Moreover, a stakeholder operating in the corrections space identified cybersecurity as a critical weakness. This stakeholder cited a lack of technical knowledge to hedge security risks as a key barrier for both incarcerated persons and employees. Hence, the myriad of challenges associated with a lack of cybersecurity training and awareness remains problematic for digital equity.

Barrier #6: Lack of User-Friendly Interfaces (Device and/or Online Applications)

Another barrier to digital equity in North Dakota is the lack of user-friendly interfaces, both with respect to devices and online applications. While individuals might want to access the internet for work, school, government services, or many other reasons, a device or application that is not intuitive may be a significant roadblock that discourages and even prevents individuals from using the internet. A stakeholder in the Senior Services Focus Group stated that the current accessibility features of devices could be more apparent when aging individuals initially turn on these devices. While there are accessibility features available on many devices, if users do not know how to navigate to them, they are unhelpful. A stakeholder in the Disability Services Focus Group noted that this barrier impacts individuals with disabilities, as some advanced technology along with websites do not yet address the needs of this population. Finally, a stakeholder in the Veterans Focus Group noted that phone text can often be too small for people to see, which makes phone use challenging. While some programs (particularly those offered by non-profits focused on disability support) attempt to address this issue, it continues to be a hurdle for digital equity throughout the state.

Barrier #7: Reluctance to Adopt High-Speed Broadband

Regardless of whether individuals have broadband access and possess basic digital skills, certain populations remain reluctant to adopt high-speed internet. This reluctance is often due to negative perceptions about using the internet or otherwise a lack of interest in using it. This was corroborated by multiple stakeholder insights. A stakeholder representing rural industry and a stakeholder in the Rural Economic Development Focus Group both identified this as a barrier impacting individuals living in rural areas. A stakeholder in the Rural Economic Development Focus Group also pointed out that some Tribal Entities have access to the internet, but may be reluctant to use it. Finally, an organization representing individuals with disabilities (including aging individuals with disabilities) shared that due to the complexity of technology, these populations may be reluctant to engage with the internet.

While addressing the barriers that prevent access and effective use of the internet may increase interest in broadband usage by these populations, this barrier likely will remain an underlying factor for broadband adoption for these populations that will need to be addressed.

Digital Equity Strategy and Objectives

North Dakota has developed nine strategies with 25 total activities (9 activities unique to the Digital Equity Plan and 16 activities shared with the BEAD Five-Year Action Plan) to deliver upon its vision for digital equity. These tactics aim to address key gaps and barriers related to full participation in the digital environment. 

Broadband Availability and Affordability

Objective 1.1: Expand access to high-speed and reliable broadband infrastructure

Strategy: Through the administration of BEAD funds, prioritize projects that will extend service to unserved locations, upgrade service to underserved locations, and provide 1 Gigabit service to Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs).

• Prioritize first projects that deploy broadband infrastructure to the unserved locations, and subsequently projects that deploy or upgrade infrastructure for the underserved locations.
• Fund projects that extend 1 Gbps symmetrical speeds to identified CAIs.
• Prioritize deployment projects that enable additional ISPs to provide coverage to areas with only one service provider.
• Continue to identify all unserved and underserved locations as well as CAIs not receiving 1 Gbps symmetrical speeds.

Strategy: Measures of Success

• The percentage of locations with access to ≥100/20 Mbps download/upload speeds, with a near-term target of 99 percent of locations with access to ≥100/20 Mbps download/upload speeds and a long-term target of providing 100 percent of locations with access to ≥100/20 Mbps download/upload speeds.
• To measure this, the state could:
  • Require subgrantees to report progress on a regular cadence as they build the supporting broadband infrastructure (cadence to be determined);
  • Review most recently updated FCC National Broadband Maps upon their release to assess changes in the percent and number of served, underserved, and unserved locations;
  • Identify additional funding sources and opportunities to extend coverage to any remaining unserved and underserved locations.

Objective 1.2: Encourage broadband adoption among all North Dakotans

Strategy: Partner with community institutions to increase awareness about digital inclusion resources and support digital inclusion planning on a local and regional level.

• Ensure that institutions offering digital inclusion programming are informed about available federal funding resources to enhance their digital inclusion efforts. Collaborate with these institutions to strategize pathways for long-term support once the Digital Equity Act funding is exhausted.
• Support the development of a comprehensive and interactive web tool and an accompanying physical resource that consolidates all digital inclusion assets. This may include digital skills training courses, device assistance programs, educational resources, and public computer access points.
• Work with partners from the proposed Digital Equity Working Group to encourage and support local entities and Tribal Entities with developing local digital equity plans that identify the specific digital inclusion needs of their respective communities.

Strategy: Measures of Success

• The percentage of households with a broadband subscription, with a near-term target of 87 percent and a long-term target of providing 90 percent of households with a broadband subscription.
• To measure this, the state could:
  • Require subgrantees to report progress on a regular cadence as they support local plans;
  • Track the use of webtool and routinely update and service the platform;
  • Analyze progress routinely to track subscriptions with American Community Survey (ACS) data on “Percentage of Households With Subscription to Any Broadband Service."

Objective 1.3: Promote affordability by improving statewide participation in low-cost programs and services

Strategy: Increase outreach and advertisement of low-cost service offerings amongst eligible populations.

• Partner with state agencies and/or community support organizations to support a statewide ACP enrollment campaign. As part of the campaign, develop targeted ACP outreach materials to engage covered populations.
• Work with Public Housing Authorities to advertise and promote ACP and other low-cost offerings among low-income North Dakotans. Additionally, engage with relevant organizations (e.g., North Dakota Housing Finance Agency) to discuss potential incentives for developers to educate individuals about low-cost internet offerings within the Low-Income Housing Tax-Credit Allocation Plan.
• Coordinate with organizations overseeing government assistance programs within North Dakota to target ACP/low-cost offering awareness efforts to households in need of support.

Measures of Success

• The statewide participation in ACP, with a near-term target of 20 percent and a long-term target of 35 percent of households participating in the ACP.
• To measure this, the state could:
  • Track the number of enrollment events;
  • Track the number of partnerships with organizations that administer income-support programs;
  • Track ACP participation through Education Superhighway.

Online Accessibility and Inclusivity

Objective 2.1: Encourage online availability of state government resources

Strategy: Coordinate with state agencies to identify and resolve gaps in the online availability of government services and offer North Dakotans support to help them navigate these offerings.

• Survey all state agencies in North Dakota to collect information regarding their online service offerings and identify any services that are currently unavailable online. Support agencies in addressing gaps in the online provision of resources.
• Build upon the Citizen Services Webpage to ensure that all online government services are captured in a consolidated platform.

Measures of Success

• The number of state government services that are offered online, with a near-term target of 80 percent and a long-term target of 100 percent of services offered online.
• To measure this, the state could:
  • Require agencies to submit information regarding their online service offerings and follow-ups documenting progress towards increased online presence;
  • Track the expansion of services offered through the Citizens Services Webpage.

Objective 2.2: Ensure that state government resources are accessible to all North Dakotans

Strategy: Work to ensure government websites and services are compliant with the highest standards of online accessibility and limit barriers for individuals with disabilities and individuals with language barriers.

• Engage with state agencies to encourage widespread adoption of the state website platform that has embedded capabilities for integrated accessibility scanning and measures to help with assisted web browsing. Work to ensure that the state website platform is regularly updated to stay consistent with the most up-to-date accessibility standards.
• Conduct an audit of state agencies’ websites to identify whether essential government services are accessible and inclusive for ESL individuals. If services are found to be inaccessible, assist state agencies in providing additional resources to ESL individuals.

Measures of Success

• The number of state government websites that meet the requirements of an accessibility audit, with a near-term target of 50 percent and long-term target of 100 percent of government websites meeting the requirements of an accessibility audit.
• To measure this, the state could:
  • Require agencies to submit information regarding their accessible online service offerings and follow-ups documenting progress towards increased online accessibility;
  • Audit websites routinely;
  • Track cross-agency strategies related to increasing accessibility of online services.

Digital Skills

Objective 3.1: Encourage increased provision of/participation in digital skills trainings offered by entities in North Dakota

Strategy: Improve accessibility and promote awareness of digital skills training available in North Dakota.

• Help establish a statewide Digital Navigator Program that will assist individuals with adopting broadband, using digital devices, and solving technical issues. The program structure will involve one set of digital navigators that will report directly to their respective state agencies that may utilize additional navigators in organizations.
• Promote Connectivity Hubs that consolidate telehealth, digital skills, digital navigators, and workforce offerings at existing CAIs in regions with large, covered populations and unserved and underserved locations.
• Partner with state agencies and/or other training providers to increase the number and frequency of digital skills training offered in their centers. Additionally,  increase awareness of these offerings by conducting outreach to regional organizations.
• Appoint an individual responsible for overseeing the state’s digital equity efforts, aligning partners, and informing strategic decisions.

Measures of Success

• The number of digital skills and awareness programs specifically supporting each covered population in the state, with a near-term target of at least 1 digital skills and awareness program to each covered population and long-term target of proportionate numbers of digital skills and awareness programs to each covered population in the state.
• The number of digital navigators in the state, with a near-term target of developing a Digital Navigator Program with at least 4 digital navigators (1 in each corner of the state) and long-term target of having at least one digital navigator for each economic development region in the state.
• To measure these, the state could:
  • Monitor digital skills and awareness programs and track number of digital navigators;
  • Review most updated Digital Equity Act Population Viewer to assess changes in covered populations to target areas of need;
  • Review digital navigator programs routinely and digital skills programs to ensure that they are meeting targets.

Online Privacy and Cybersecurity

Objective 4.1: Increase promotion of cybersecurity education offerings

Strategy: Empower North Dakotans to protect their personal information online by raising awareness about internet risks and supporting better internet safety practices.

• Partner with DefendND to coordinate a state-led effort to increase awareness about internet safety by leveraging media outlets and local governments. Encourage individuals to take the Personal Security Risk and Assessment to better understand their security risks and complete the KnowBe4 Home Internet Security Awareness Training Course to become more knowledgeable about internet safety.
• Engage proposed Digital Equity Working Group members to explore the feasibility of providing a free mobile app to individuals that alerts users if the mobile device or tablet faces cybersecurity threats. Maximize synergies through existing development opportunities.
• Advance awareness about internet safety among covered populations by disseminating clear and straight-forward internet safety content through CAIs.

Measures of Success

• The number of individuals completing a cybersecurity course (Cisco training) offered as part of North Dakota Citizens Skills for All, with a near-term target of 75 percent utilization rate and a long-term target of 95 percent utilization rate.
• To measure this, the state could:
  • Routinely solicit feedback on course offerings from organizations providing cybersecurity courses;
  • Regularly update Internet Safety Mobile App;
  • Review cybersecurity courses to ensure that the curriculum is up to date.

Objective 4.2: Encourage internet service providers to increase their cybersecurity measures

Strategy: Encourage ISPs to offer multiple types of cybersecurity services and promote awareness regarding cyber threats to customers.

• Encourage all ISPs in North Dakota to create a trusted source certification program to offer important cybersecurity services, such as providing parental control features, educating customers about cyber risks, and spreading awareness about existing resources in the state.

Measures of Success

• The percent of subrecipients that have adopted NIST’s cybersecurity framework, with near-term and short-term targets of 100 percent of sub-recipients adopting NIST’s cybersecurity framework.
• To measure this, the state could:
  • Require subrecipients to report on whether they have adopted NIST’s cybersecurity framework;
  • Routinely meet with ISPs to identify and track efficacy of existing cybersecurity measures;
  • Collaborate with ISPs to identify opportunities for new cybersecurity measures

Device Access

Objective 5.1: Expand access to and awareness of public devices in North Dakota

Strategy: Expand public device offerings at CAIs and increase awareness of available resources.

• Encourage ISPs participating in ACP to offer connected devices that are eligible for the ACP discount.
• Encourage the expansion of public device offerings at the 48 state libraries that currently lack public computer labs and advertise these offerings on library websites.
• Expand device loaner programs to give North Dakotans the ability to rent devices from state libraries, higher education institutions, and other state agencies.

Measures of Success

• The number of libraries offering public devices, with a near-term target of 60 percent of libraries offering public devices within three years and a long-term target of 65 percent of libraries offering public devices within five years.
• To measure this, the state could:
  • Monitor the expansion of public device and computer lab construction;
  • Keep in contact with public libraries to track and monitor public device offerings.

North Dakota Wants to Hear From You

Public comments on North Dakota's draft Digital Equity Plan can be submitted using the North Dakota Information Technology Department's public comment form until November 30, 2023. More information about North Dakota's digital equity efforts can be found on the state's website.

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More in this series:

• 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
• Rhode Island Works to Bring Broadband to All Residents
• 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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