A broadband public comment session on the Hawaiʻi Digital Equity Plan, which proposes solutions for individuals and communities impacted by the “digital divide,” will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, October 19, at Molokaʻi Library, 15 Ala Malama St. in Kaunakakai.

Residents are encouraged to sign up to participate at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1bP_jG3Bses2eu9yiiq6hWE8gHkprguCzr72gMrE_H8E/viewform?edit_requested=true. Residents can also participate virtually during an online public comment session on Nov. 2 at 9:30 a.m. on Zoom via the same link.

The Hawaiʻi Digital Equity Plan is a roadmap for digital equity access across the state for the next five years and addresses the digitial divide for those who do not have reliable, affordable access to devices such as laptops and computers, training and the internet.

The isolation caused by the COVID pandemic uncovered numerous unmet needs among residents due to lack of access to digital resources. Digital inequity poses challenges connected to education, health care, jobs, and other basic services. This plan seeks to provide solutions to digital inequity, and proposes various ways we can address unmet needs.

The University of Hawaiʻi, in partnership with the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism and County of Maui, are conducting the broadband public comment sessions to collect community feedback on the plan.

The goal of the plan is to promote digital equity and ensure that everyone, regardless of where they live, their income, language, age, race, any disability, or veteran status has access to affordable devices, software, training, and reliable high-speed internet.

The Digital Equity Plan Final Draft can be accessed at https://app.box.com/s/r3q52b6kl1nv7p2xugs5lsoiiavd5fgu. Public comment on the plan will be accepted through October 31, 2023 via this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjCYD6skpPCqAyX1Zd2D-kEQNp4S17TpUa2li0LUEK_p8L_g/viewform.

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