South Dakota's Plan to Leverage Digital Equity to Reach Economic Goals

The South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED), in partnership with the South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation (DLR), seeks public comments on the state's draft Digital Opportunity Plan. This Digital Opportunity Plan (also referred to as the DO Plan) outlines a path for the state to achieve its full potential through the powerful force of an internet-enabled workforce, government, and society. For South Dakota, the key to achieving digital opportunity for all is through identifying the barriers and opportunities in three areas: 1) access to affordable, reliable broadband technology, 2) access to affordable devices, and 3) resources to learn digital skills. The DO plan provides the broad framework for how to get South Dakota from where it stands to a digitally empowered future. Through the DO Plan, South Dakota strives for a comprehensive framework to bridge the gap between the availability and adoption of broadband. The DO Plan serves as an inclusive vision for bridging the digital divide, with the explicit aim of working towards South Dakota’s broader economic goals. The state recognizes that empowering its residents with 21st-century technologies and skills is crucial to preserving South Dakotans' way of life and allowing small towns to thrive. South Dakota will maximize and optimize the funding that will be made available to it under the Digital Equity Act, using this plan as its roadmap.