Investigate community concerns including getting information from a wide-range of experts with differing opinions. Ensure that all voices are heard. Develop community-based solutions to address these concerns. Pursue these activities based upon specific needs and availability of resources. Examples of potential topics identified during the needs assessment process include the following: The effect of Electric … Continued
Educate the public about the availability and benefits of digital services. Include representatives from all sectors to ensure that the program serves Marin’s residents and businesses. Help individuals and businesses identify the benefits of using digital solutions, so they can experience the full value of online services and digital opportunities. The results of a recent … Continued
Expand the County-led Marin Information Security Collaboration (MISC), which currently serves government, education, non-profit, and similar public organizations, into a Marin Security and Privacy Council that includes other agencies and organizations, including for-profit enterprises. Continue to share cybersecurity information and resources, as well as broaden the focus to include digital privacy. Pursue projects and funding … Continued
Establish a Marin Digital Accessibility Council to serve all sectors including public, non-profits, and private industry. Share information and resources and pursue projects and funding to improve access to digital resources and services.
Assemble best practices for universal design and ease of use for online services. Work with schools, higher education, and other training programs to incorporate these best practices into their related curriculum and training programs. Share best practices with providers of online content and applications in all sectors. Conduct a marketing campaign to ensure that these … Continued
Create programs with eligibility standards to distribute low and no-cost devices to individuals and organizations. Identify needs, secure funding, determine eligibility, obtain, distribute, and track devices, and manage the program. To remove barriers, ensure that the process to obtain devices is easy to complete and coordinated with other entities such as those providing social services. … Continued
Create community-based digital support networks that serve individuals and organizations without the means to get technical support. Expand existing programs or establish new ones, potentially resulting in job creation, job training opportunities, and new businesses. Launch these projects based on each communities’ specific needs and availability of resources.
Inventory digital literacy training programs, including those in K-12 and higher education, to determine gaps, identify redundancies, and ensure that digital literacy training is available for all Marin residents and businesses. Collect information such as intended audience, training method, curriculum, and whether the program is meeting Marin’s digital literacy standards. Ensure that resources spent on … Continued
Develop a baseline standard of digital literacy for Marin. Work with schools and other training programs to incorporate these standards into their curriculum and training programs. Conduct a marketing campaign to ensure that these standards are well known and adopted throughout Marin.
Increase access to affordable broadband services for everyone, especially for those least able to pay, by identifying or creating discounted and free programs. Manage the programs through a centralized agency, whenever possible, using Federal, State, local, and other funding sources. Remove barriers to entry by ensuring the process to get discounted or free internet service … Continued
