HomeMy Public PortalAbout2022.10.28 DAAI - Background information for partners
Digital Access for All Idahoans (DAAI) State Plan
Background Information for Partner Interviews
Questions covered in this document:
• Why am I being contacted?
• What do you mean by digital access/digital inclusion?
• Why is Idaho creating a digital access plan?
• Who is the ICfL?
Why Am I Being Contacted?
Governor Little selected the Idaho Commission for Libraries (ICfL) to work with community partners in
creating a digital access and inclusion plan for the state, as authorized and funded under Title III of the
Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act. In Idaho, we have named this plan “Digital Access for All
Idahoans.”
The first, and most important step in this process is to identify the needs of Idahoans to inform a plan
that addresses Idaho’s unique challenges and opportunities. We are starting that process by reaching
out to a variety of community partners in Idaho’s digital society and economy, including non-profits,
state agencies, educators, business groups, advocacy and civil rights organizations, and others.
Your organization has been identified as an important partner based on a number of factors, such as the
customers you serve, the services you provide, and/or the community you represent. We are interested
in hearing more about both the digital needs of the people you serve as well as the digital needs of your
staff/organization in meeting your mission.
What is Digital Access/Digital Inclusion
Put simply, digital access and inclusion mean that every person in Idaho has the resources, knowledge,
and skills to participate fully in the digital society and economy. These terms are also defined more
specifically below.
Of special concern for Idaho’s digital access efforts are people living in rural areas, as well as populations
that are often underserved when it comes to accessing digital resources. These include aging individuals,
incarcerated or recently released individuals, veterans, people with disabilities, people with language
barriers, people with low levels of literacy, and individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic
minority group.
Digital access is defined as “the condition in which individuals and communities have the information
technology capacity that is needed for full participation in the society and economy of the United
States.”
Digital inclusion is defined as “the activities that are necessary to ensure that all individuals in the United
States have access to, and the use of, affordable information and communication technologies.” Digital
inclusion consists of the following five elements: (1) affordable internet service, (2) access to adequate
devices, (3) digital literacy, (4) access to quality technical support, and (5) the availability of accessible
content. Additional information about these five elements can be found on our website at:
https://libraries.idaho.gov/digital-inclusion/
Why is Idaho Creating a Digital Access Plan?
Much of Idaho’s economy and social connections already take place online and through digital systems.
We register our students for school online, apply for jobs online, do our banking online, shop for houses
online, talk to our families online, and even buy our groceries online. Ensuring digital access for
everyone is good for business, good for communities, and good for Idahoans, both now and into the
future.
The Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) provides funding for planning and implementing long -
term, systematic, and sustainable solutions for the country’s infrastructure. This includes the Digital
Equity Act (DEA), which provides states with funding to create and implement digital inclusion plans.
States will receive federal funds to support the planning process, and those that complete the planning
process will qualify for additional funding to implement their plans.
While other parts of the IIJA address the physical infrastructure required to bring high-speed broadband
to communities across the country, the DEA focuses on the human side of the issue. The pu rpose of the
Digital Equity Act is to ensure that all individuals and communities have the skills, technology, and
capacity needed to reap the full benefits of our digital economy.
The opportunity the Digital Equity Act provides to states is the chance to step back and thoughtfully
design a statewide digital inclusion strategy to holistically meet the unique needs of our state’s
residents, leverage our state’s assets, and identify innovative and creative solutions to achieve digital
access for all Idahoans.
Who is the ICfL?
The ICfL is a state agency. Our mission is to assist libraries to build the capacity to better serve their
communities. Libraries have been on the forefront of digital inclusion efforts for many years, and the
ICfL has a strong history of partnering at the federal, state, and local level to bring valuable resources to
communities throughout Idaho.
Nearly every community in Idaho, even the most remote and rural, has a library of some type. Our
connection with these libraries, and their connection to the communities they serve, makes the ICfL
uniquely positioned to lead Idaho’s digital access planning process. You can learn more about us at
www.libraries.idaho.gov