Envisioning a Connected, Interconnected Alabama

The Alabama Digital Expansion Division of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) has released a draft of the state's Digital Opportunity Plan, which details Alabama's vision of a connected, interconnected future. ADECA has made the state's plan available for public comment until November 23, 2023. The State of Alabama envisions a connected, interconnected future in which all Alabamians—including those who are not currently connected or who face other barriers to digital opportunity—will have the opportunity to benefit from broadband internet, for purposes of economic opportunity, education, healthcare, and all the other ways the internet offers digital opportunity. In that envisioned future, all Alabamians will have access to the following five critical elements of digital opportunity:

1. Availability of affordable, reliable internet connectivity at home
2. A computing device and the opportunity to maintain it
3. Opportunity to learn digital skills
4. Tools and information to be safe online
5. Online state resources that are accessible and usable