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ACP Adoption Toolkit for Local Leaders

Adoption Toolkit For Local Leaders

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Local Leaders Can Act Now

CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IN YOUR CITY

Local leaders can make an immediate impact on the digital divide in their community by launching an awareness campaign to ensure their residents know about the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) using our action plan and toolkit. To date, only 25% of Americans eligible for federal broadband affordability programs have enrolled.

Connecting Households With

THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM

 The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a new federal government program that helps families pay for home Internet and connected devices. The ACP benefit provides:

UP TO

$30

/month

Discount on Internet Service

UP TO

$75

/month

Discount on Internet Service for Household on Qualifying Tribal Lands

A ONE TIME DISCOUNT OF

$100

For a Laptop, Tablet or Desktop Computer

SUPPORT FOR LOCAL LEADERS

EducationSuperHighway can provide local leaders with best practices for identifying and reaching unconnected households; an understanding of the federal funding opportunities available to support your efforts; and the tools you will need to close the broadband affordability gap in your community.

Contact Us

An Action Plan For

LOCAL GOVERNMENT
LEADERS

With unprecedented funding and a broad coalition of support, we now have a historic opportunity to close the digital divide.
Local Leaders Toolkit Steps

Step # 1

CONVENE

Unite community-based organizations, Internet Service Providers, and trusted institutions in your community to get behind a community-wide goal to raise awareness of the Affordable Connectivity Program. Ensure they understand the critical role they play in helping residents sign up for Internet service.

  • Designate an individual or office to serve as a principal coordinating entity that can coordinate this effort across city agencies, such as a Chief of Staff, Director of Communications, or Broadband Advisor.

 

  • Utilize the template letters EducationSuperHighway has created to invite your stakeholders to an in-person gathering or webinar.

 

  • Host an in-person or virtual meeting of Internet Service Providers in your city to outline their role in the initiative. Ensure each has a clear and documented process for residents interacting with them to sign up for the ACP and broadband service. Our team can provide guidance and help facilitate this meeting.

 

  • Host an in-person meeting or webinar for community-based organizations and trusted institutions in your city to help them navigate the Affordable Connectivity Program and launch effective outreach campaigns.  Contact us to learn more.
yellow blob illustration

Step #2

PREPARE

Develop communications plans for raising awareness of the Affordable Connectivity Program in your community.

  • Outline a clear process that you will communicate to residents about how they should enroll in the Affordable Connectivity Program and sign up with Internet Service Providers.
  • Equip trusted messengers with talking points and FAQs that enable them to easily share key information and confidently help community members navigate questions about eligibility and enrollment.

Step #3

PROMOTE

Promote the Affordable Connectivity Program using city communications channels and launch outreach campaigns that raise awareness and encourage participation.
  • Hold a press conference with community-based organizations and trusted institutions that are participating in the initiative.
  • Issue a sample press release that ensures community members are aware of the Affordable Connectivity Program. Use EducationSuperHighway’s sample press release that is customized with digital divide statistics and sample quotes.
  • Execute the communications plan using city communications channels and EducationSuperHighway’s social media toolkit.
An senior male using an iPad

Step #4

ACTIVATE

Activate community-based organizations’ and trusted institutions’ outreach initiatives.

  • Make sure community-based organizations and trusted institutions have promotional materials and equip trusted messengers with with talking points and FAQs that enable them to easily share key information.
  • Work with EducationSuperHighway to host a webinar for community-based organizations and trusted institutions to ask questions prior to starting community outreach.
  • Schedule 30, 60, and 90-day check-in meetings with community-based organizations and trusted institutions, to track their efforts and troubleshoot challenges.
  • EducationSuperHighway will provide local leaders with ACP enrollment data for the check-in meetings to allow your community to track your progress. EducationSuperHighway recommends that local communities issue regular press announcements highlighting your success and helping to maintain a community-wide focus on the initiative.