Broadband Equity VISTA

The Broadband Equity Associate will help the state’s Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission (Commission) promote ambitious, climate-neutral, culturally responsive strategies for climate change adaptation and mitigation in a manner that is clean, equitable and resilient. The VISTA will conduct community outreach and data analysis on behalf of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), and the Commission, to lift low-income, ALICE, and underserved communities out of poverty by helping them gain access to affordable and reliable internet. The VISTA will conduct data analysis of low-income, ALICE, and underserved communities need for broadband access. The Associate will conduct data analysis using programs like but not limited to ArcGIS to compile and visualize communities in need of affordable and reliable access to the internet, and provide this data to DBEDT to be utilized for the purpose of providing these communities broadband access. The VISTA will develop and implement an outreach plan for DBEDT to engage with communities to learn more about their broadband needs. The VISTA will work on: •Developing strategies to identify and collaborate with partners to leverage impact and outreach to low-income, ALICE, underserved communities; •Developing broadband education curriculum, materials and tools; •Developing a strategic communication, engagement, and outreach plan including but not limited press kits, briefings and presentations for broadband financing programs. The VISTA will seek out and write grants to provide DBEDT with capacity building opportunities. The VISTA will analyze and dissect DBEDTs current measures and frameworks pertaining to Broadband equity, research and collect data and information on best practices to include low-income, ALICE, and underserved communities in frameworks; analyze current DBEDT broadband frameworks inclusion of low-income, ALICE, and underserved communities