Philadelphia releases five-year digital equity plan

The City of Philadelphia, USA has announced an executive order and released a five-year plan to address the multifaceted barriers to digital access. The Digital Equity Plan identifies key goals to address affordability and availability of broadband and devices, as well as obstacles related to language, race, digital literacy skills, disabilities, and more. The city will also work to ensure the right capacity and infrastructure are in place to increase digital equity. ‘The pandemic has shown that internet and device access is essential for daily living – including accessing healthcare and government services, closing the homework gap, and supporting a 21st-century workforce. The creation of the Digital Equity Plan and the official decree of the policy will help the city better address the various issues that contribute to the digital divide,’ said city’s Chief Information Officer Mark Wheeler.