Digital Equity Highlights + Transition

Summary

A slide presentation led by Omar Santana-Gomez, Legislative Director, and Katrina Tuggle, Program Manager, summarizes Digital Equity Forum (DEF) accomplishments since April 2024. It lists an increase in DEF meeting attendance from 19 to 96-130 per meeting, an approved charter, and the onboarding of 8 new DEF members and 15 alternates. A transition table sets out responsibilities for the Washington State Office of Equity until June 30, 2025, such as staffing workgroup meetings and transferring all DEF materials. The slides name the Public Private Policy, Interagency Collaboration, Data & Measurement, and Broadband & Accessibility workgroups and preview legislative recommendations, including launching a Digital Equity inter-departmental team.

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Full text

            Digital Equity
       Highlights + Transition
Omar Santana-Gomez – Legislative Director
   Katrina Tuggle – Program Manager
                      Digital Equity Forum
                 Accomplishments since April 2024
 Increased DEF meeting attendance from 19 to 96-130 per meeting
 Charter approved
 Framework & calendar for proposed recommendations to legislature developed
 DEF and workgroup co-chairs appointed (spring 2024 and 2025)
 DEF Member application process created
 Onboarded 8 new DEF members + 15 alternates
 DEF whole group meeting cadence defined
 Workgroups established and meeting cadence defined
 Co-chair & workgroup co-chairs meeting cadence defined
 DEF yearly calendar established
 DEF member alternates identified
 Established period for public comment at each meeting
 Clear, consistent, and ongoing communication and updates for DEF members and public
 1:1 member meetings held
                                               Federally Recognized Tribes
                                               State Agencies Involved in DE
                                               Washington State House - Ex-Officio
                                               Underserved and Unserved Communities


    DEF Membership
                                               Subject Matter Experts

                                                          8%
                                                                             16%
RCW 43.330.5395: Appointee Priorities
for the Digital Equity Forum

Directors must prioritize appointees
                                         32%
representing:
• Federally Recognized Tribes
• State Agencies involved in digital                                                 32%
   equity
• Underserved and Unserved
   Communities, including historically                   12%
   disadvantaged communities
                         DEF Transition back to
                   Washington State Broadband Office
Office of Equity               Washington State                   Office of Equity Responsibilities
Recommendations                Broadband Action                         (until June 30, 2025):
Attend and staff DEF           Commitment confirmed to       1. Onboard new members and follow up
workgroup meetings by July 1   begin July 1                     on member info
                                                             2. Support workgroup and co-chair
Coordinate early for Oct 28    Internal planning and            planning meetings
legislative report             coordination initiated        3. Host May & June DEF meetings
Launch DEF website by July 1   Website in development, on    4. Transfer all DEF materials to WSBO
                               track for launch              5. Distribute meeting materials and
Maintain meeting cadence       Invites sent for full group      updates
with DEF & co-chairs           and planning meetings         6. Maintain DEF listserv and community
                                                                outreach
Join June 3 DEF meeting for    Presented DEF transition      7. Assist and support transitions of DEF
visibility                     plan; COMM leadership            back to WSBO
                               observed
     Office of Equity Support of DEF
          After June 30 , 2025
                        th




1.Approval of Digital Equity Forum Membership

2.Approval of Digital Equity Forum Agendas
               Digital Equity Forum
                   Workgroups

1. Public Private Policy Workgroup

2. Interagency Collaboration Workgroup

3. Data & Measurement Workgroup

4. Broadband & Accessibility Workgroup
               Preview of Digital Equity Forum
                Legislative Recommendations
Barrier: Bureaucratic Silos and Fragmented       Barrier: In regard to public private partnerships,
Structures.                                      there is a lack of reliable, disaggregated, or up-to-
                                                 date data—especially for tribal lands, rural areas,
Recommendation: Launch a WA State Digital        and marginalized populations.
Equity inter-departmental team. This team
would receive dedicated funding, be endowed      Recommendation: Ensure we are using data to
with the necessary authority, and be             drive strategic recommendations that can be
responsible for aligning state programs—         achieved through existing or emerging best-
including regional and local initiatives—to      practices to ensure practical impact improving
ensure that digital inclusion is embedded as a   access to technology and improved broadband
core metric across related policies (from        accessibility, especially to those who are at-risk or
education and healthcare to economic             historically under-served like tribes and rural
development).                                    communities.
                                 Digital Equity Outreach
                                                                  Led by: Office of Equity’s Communications & Innovation and
Led by: Office of Equity’s Communications & Tribal Liaison Team   Performance Team

Purpose: Gather community input to shape the 2025 DEF             Purpose: Engage hard-to-reach communities with information
Legislative Report                                                about federal and local support programs.

Approach:                                                         Approach:
•   Co-created a needs assessment with DEF workgroup co-          • Strengthened connections with trusted community
    chairs                                                          messengers
•   Developed and distributed a community-facing survey           • Engaged new and existing local coalitions focused on building
•   Centered DEF workgroup needs to ensure a community-             with hard-to-reach communities
    informed report.
                                                                  Key Activities:
Key Activities:                                                   • Co-created 9 virtual sessions with 260+ participants from all
•   Tribal government-to-government meetings                        39 counties and 40+ community presentations
•   In-person engagement in rural & underserved areas             • Co-created a social media toolkit to support future local
•   Collaboration with trusted messengers & local leaders            outreach
•   Designed Outreach materials                                   • Conducted outreach to raise awareness of the Digital Equity
•   Captured insights & ensured accessibility                        Forum
Questions?


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