Digital Equity Plan

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The City of Somerville and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) are developing a Digital Equity Plan, as part of the Massachusetts Broadband Institute's Municipal Digital Equity Planning Program.

You can sign up here to receive email updates on the status of this project!

The planning process involves four main phases:

Existing Conditions Assessment and Data Analysis

In this phase, MAPC's Data Analytics team will collect and analyze existing data relating to digital access from local, state, and federal sources. This phase also includes mapping of existing broadband infrastructure and of social infrastructure which exists to support digital literacy at community institutions like libraries, schools, community centers, and others.

Community Engagement and Qualitative Research

After completing initial data analysis, MAPC's Community Engagement team and the City staff will conduct a comprehensive community engagement process. This process will consist of survey research (conducted in-person as well as online), interviews and focus groups, and public events to contextualize the results of our data analysis with the lived experience of Somerville residents.

Action Plan Development

Once qualitative and quantitative data have been collected and analyzed, the project team will work to produce specific, actionable recommendations to be shared with municipal leadership and community-based stakeholders. These include policy recommendations, infrastructure investments, and other interventions.

Documentation and Plan Communication

Building on the digital equity action plan, MAPC's Digital Equity team will work to turn findings and recommendations into a comprehensive plan document, with a target publication date of early November, 2023. Following publication, the project team will share the findings with state and local elected leaders, municipal decision makers, community-based organizations, and the public in a series events and other outreach activities.


To learn more or get involved in the planning process, please email Will Pfeffer (wpfeffer@mapc.org), the project manager for this planning process.

Si necesita ayuda en su idioma, comuníquese con nosotros a través de somervillema.gov/ContactSomerviva o llame al 311 (617-666-3311)      

Caso precise de assistência em seu idioma, entre em contato conosco por meio deste formulário online: somervillema.gov/ContactSomerviva ou ligue para 311 (617-666-3311)      

Si ou bezwen asistans nan lang ou a, kontakte nou nan somervillema.gov/ContactSomerviva oswa rele 311 (617-666-3311)    

यदि आफ्नो भाषामा सहायता चाहिन्छ भने कृपया सम्पर्क गर्नुहोस: www.somervillema.gov/ContactSomerviva गर्नुहोस् वा यो ३११ (६१७-६६६-३३११) / 311 (617-666-3311)   

如果您需要語言方面的協助 請撥打 311 (617-666-3311) 或於somervillema.gov/ContactSomerviva 聯絡 彩薩默: 移民事務辦公室。  

如果您需要语言方面的协助，请联系 (somervillema.gov/ContactSomerViva)或者请拨打 311（617-666-3311）。

"Prospect Hill Monument" by Erik Kilby, used under CC BY 2.0 / desaturated from original and adapted to include Wi-Fi symbol

The City of Somerville and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) are developing a Digital Equity Plan, as part of the Massachusetts Broadband Institute's Municipal Digital Equity Planning Program.

You can sign up here to receive email updates on the status of this project!

The planning process involves four main phases:

Existing Conditions Assessment and Data Analysis

In this phase, MAPC's Data Analytics team will collect and analyze existing data relating to digital access from local, state, and federal sources. This phase also includes mapping of existing broadband infrastructure and of social infrastructure which exists to support digital literacy at community institutions like libraries, schools, community centers, and others.

Community Engagement and Qualitative Research

After completing initial data analysis, MAPC's Community Engagement team and the City staff will conduct a comprehensive community engagement process. This process will consist of survey research (conducted in-person as well as online), interviews and focus groups, and public events to contextualize the results of our data analysis with the lived experience of Somerville residents.

Action Plan Development

Once qualitative and quantitative data have been collected and analyzed, the project team will work to produce specific, actionable recommendations to be shared with municipal leadership and community-based stakeholders. These include policy recommendations, infrastructure investments, and other interventions.

Documentation and Plan Communication

Building on the digital equity action plan, MAPC's Digital Equity team will work to turn findings and recommendations into a comprehensive plan document, with a target publication date of early November, 2023. Following publication, the project team will share the findings with state and local elected leaders, municipal decision makers, community-based organizations, and the public in a series events and other outreach activities.


To learn more or get involved in the planning process, please email Will Pfeffer (wpfeffer@mapc.org), the project manager for this planning process.

Si necesita ayuda en su idioma, comuníquese con nosotros a través de somervillema.gov/ContactSomerviva o llame al 311 (617-666-3311)      

Caso precise de assistência em seu idioma, entre em contato conosco por meio deste formulário online: somervillema.gov/ContactSomerviva ou ligue para 311 (617-666-3311)      

Si ou bezwen asistans nan lang ou a, kontakte nou nan somervillema.gov/ContactSomerviva oswa rele 311 (617-666-3311)    

यदि आफ्नो भाषामा सहायता चाहिन्छ भने कृपया सम्पर्क गर्नुहोस: www.somervillema.gov/ContactSomerviva गर्नुहोस् वा यो ३११ (६१७-६६६-३३११) / 311 (617-666-3311)   

如果您需要語言方面的協助 請撥打 311 (617-666-3311) 或於somervillema.gov/ContactSomerviva 聯絡 彩薩默: 移民事務辦公室。  

如果您需要语言方面的协助，请联系 (somervillema.gov/ContactSomerViva)或者请拨打 311（617-666-3311）。

"Prospect Hill Monument" by Erik Kilby, used under CC BY 2.0 / desaturated from original and adapted to include Wi-Fi symbol
Page last updated: 13 Mar 2024, 02:44 PM