LYNN — The city is asking residents to take part in a digital-equity survey to identify the barriers community members face when it comes to internet access.
The anonymous online survey is being conducted by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute and will assist in determining how $147 million from the national Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program, which is overseen by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, is distributed.
MBI Senior Program Director Jody Jones said that digital equity is crucial for all.
“Digital equity would mean that every resident has access to affordable and reliable high-speed internet and they have the tools and resources to use the internet,” Jones said. “There are so many things that you need to have the internet for today, so not having it is a huge barrier to participate in modern-day life.”
MBI is an economic-development organization that focuses on extending internet access for everyone in Massachusetts.
Jones said the survey will help the Commonwealth direct where resources will go in the coming years to improve people’s access to fast and affordable internet, which is essential for everything from health-care services to searching for jobs.
“As part of that planning project, we want to hear from all voices across the state,” Jones said. “We want to understand where people live, what their current situation is in terms of the internet, and what tech they have access to.”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 84% of households in the city had a broadband internet subscription from 2017 to 2021.
Jones said one of the biggest subjects of interest for MBI is affordability, which she said is often a barrier to internet access.
“We want to know where residents are in terms of what they pay for internet and in terms of what they are willing to pay for internet,” Jones said. “There’s a lot of barriers that are out there and we’re really trying to uncover what those are specifically and use a data-driven approach to inform the investment that will be made.”
The city said in a press release that the survey will also be available in person at the Lynn Public Library, Senior Center, and City Hall.
The online survey is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, Russian, Arabic, and Khmer.
Jones said that given the influx of resources the Commonwealth is set to receive, it is crucial to bring as many voices as possible to the table.
“There’s a generational investment coming, so this is a very important moment for internet availability in Massachusetts,” Jones said. “It is a basic need of 21st-century modern life.”
