State Assistance for Digital Connectivity
Special to the Otis Observer
December 2024
Aleesha Siddiqui, AmeriCorps/Lead for America Digital Equity Fellow.
Photo: Christina Lane
People in Otis are talking. Word on the street is that the town — along with its neighbors Becket, Washington, and Windsor — have joined forces to create a Digital Equity Plan.
What’s a Digital Equity Plan? We’re here to tell you — and make sure YOU’RE part of the process!
A Digital Equity Plan is a document that explains the internet, computer, and digital skill needs of residents. The goal of a plan is to understand how to best bring affordable broadband service; computer devices; and digital knowledge and skills to everyone, regardless of experience, age, ability, income, education, and more.
Funding for the Digital Equity Plan comes from the Biden Administration’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Last year, the IIJA allocated money to the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI), the state’s broadband agency, which then provided money to towns like Otis that expressed interest in creating a plan.
The planning process, which started in June 2024 and ends in early 2025, will allow the town to receive over $56,000 from MBI to put in place activities that improve residents’ digital lives.
The plan is being written by the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC), the county’s regional planning agency. BRPC has so far written plans for two other communities (Pittsfield and Dalton), with nine more on the way.
BRPC’s lead staff person for Otis, Aleesha Siddiqui, is an AmeriCorps/Lead for America Digital Equity Fellow, who has been on the ground in Otis for the last two months talking to individuals and groups to learn about what they’d like to see happen in town to bring about greater digital equity.
“The people I’ve met in Otis have been so welcoming and enthusiastic about digital equity,” said Aleesha. “At the recent Veteran’s Day Pancake Breakfast, I met many people who expressed a need for more computers for the Council on Aging as well as teachers or navigators to help older folks troubleshoot device problems and navigate the internet safely. Overall, I’m really looking forward to working with the town of Otis to put together a meaningful digital equity plan!”
A recent meeting Aleesha had with the principal of Farmington River Elementary School also underscored the need for local digital programming geared toward children, possibly through a partnership with the Otis Library, which has expressed a similar interest in creating a more diverse range of computer-related opportunities for young children and older adults, two important populations most impacted by digital gaps.
To share your experiences around digital equity, and ensure the plan is truly representative of the community, we are asking everyone to take a brief online Internet for All survey by December 1 at this link: bit.ly/BCInternet. Currently, Otis has only 33 survey responses. Our goal is to reach 80.
You can also share your internet or computer needs or ideas with Aleesha by calling (413) 442-1521, ext. 33 or emailing her at asiddiqui@berkshireplanning.org. In the meantime, be sure to check out BRPC’s helpful Digital Resource Guide, where you can find great resources for free and low-cost classes, devices, and more.
BRPC wants this plan to be as informed as possible by the people of Otis, so make your voice heard today!
