DRAFT Digital Equity Plan for the State of Maine
Maine faces a perfect storm of challenges in achieving digital equity. Our remote and rugged terrain makes our state one of the most difficult and expensive to reach with digital infrastructure. As the oldest state in the nation, we have a significant population that didn’t grow up with all of the technology available today. Maine’s median household and per capita income lag behind most other states. Almost all of us live in small, rural communities with limited resources. These forces combine to shape the contours of the digital divide in Maine. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) estimates that 89% of Mainers identify as a population likely to be most impacted by the digital divide, referred to as “covered populations” in the Digital Equity Act. These important audiences include: older adults, low-income households, people living in rural areas, veterans, individuals with a disability, individuals with a language barrier, individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group, and people who are incarcerated. Through the engagement process, we set out to explore the experience of many Mainers. We learned that the barriers to digital equity that impact all of us are exacerbated for these covered populations in our state. It’s not enough to simply have access to broadband service; we must also be able to afford that service and have the skills, devices, and support to truly benefit from it. One thing has been clear and consistent throughout the planning process: Maine people recognize that
digital connectivity is essential to our daily lives.
DRAFT Digital Equity Plan for the State of Maine