Project summary

The Digital Opportunities Compass framework, published in February 2023, can be used to guide state and local digital inclusion planning at a moment of unprecedented investment in broadband infrastructure and digital equity. The framework was developed in partnership with researchers at Merit, the Quello Center at MSU, the Digital Equity Research Center at the Metropolitan New York Library Council, and the National Digital Inclusion Alliance. As communities and states develop plans to improve digital equity, it is important to establish a shared framework to set goals and priorities, identify opportunities, and monitor progress toward these goals. The Digital Opportunities Compass can be used to gain a holistic picture of digital equity in a community, identify key factors that influence outcomes, and support planning and strategy development. The Compass can be leveraged as a tool for collaboration between anchor institutions, practitioners, and policy makers to contribute to a healthier digital equity ecosystem. 

This project was funded in part by the Quello Center for Media and Information Policy at Michigan State University.

Publications

Related links:

• Watch a webinar on the Compass hosted by the New York State Library in April 2023
• Learn about a project, led by Merit Network, that will use the framework to develop a community-driven digital equity plan in communities across Michigan