Digital Opportunity

 Digital Opportunity and the Digital Divide

The City of Bloomington has been working diligently for several years to improve the broadband environment in Bloomington.  Digital opportunity is an important and integral part of this effort. Digital opportunity refers to the fair distribution of the internet and modern technology throughout society. Factors that contribute to digital opportunity include access to the internet; the quality of internet service; the availability of quality computing devices; and one's training, comfort, and ability to effectively use computers and the internet. 

You may have heard the term digital divide, which highlights the gaps between those with robust access to digital tools and those without. These gaps often reflect broader social and economic disparities, including income, level, age, location, and other factors. 

With the goal of improving access to digital resources in our community, the City developed a Digital Strategic Plan in 2020. The first major activity in the development of our plan was the creation and administration of a scientific survey of Bloomington residents on digital and broadband access in April. That survey was completed by 1080 respondents. Building on the results of the survey, we have consulted with stakeholders and the public to draft the strategic plan itself. 

Digital Opportunity Initiative with Meridiam & GigabitNow

Meridiam is now constructing an open access fiber network in Bloomington. As part of this project Meridiam and the City agreed on a transformational digital opportunity initiative. These commitments pass through to Meridiam's first ISP on its open access network, GigabitNow.

The City of Bloomington, mStreet Fiber (formally known as Hoosier Fiber Networks), and GigabitNow have partnered to provide low-cost high-speed fiber internet service to income-eligible households. 

Key Features of the Program:

• High-speed internet (at least 250 Mbps up & down) with no bandwidth caps, no bandwidth throttling for $9.99/month.
• Meridiam hired local project staff and provides the City with $85k for staffing and supplies.
• The program will be available at all Bloomington Housing Authority apartment buildings
• Eligibility is broad: Residents may qualify through participation in one or more of the following federal or state programs:
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); HUD Housing Vouchers (also referred to as Section 8 Vouchers); The Indiana Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); the Indiana Department of Education’s free and reduced-price meals eligibility criteria; Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI); the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision; Medicaid; Federal Public Housing Assistance; WIC; or Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits.
• For more information, visit https://www.gigabitnow.com/bloomington/fiber-for-all/

For information about ongoing fiber construction and GigabitNow's ISP services, Bloomington residents should call or email GigabitNow Support at support@gigabitnow.com or 1-866-748-8066.

Digital Opportunity Activities

• NTIA Competitive Grant Recommendation
  • NTIA Grant Information: https://bloomington.in.gov/news/2025/01/13/6145

• Bloomington Digital Opportunity Grants Program
  • Grants Information: https://bloomington.in.gov/digital-opportunity-grants
  • 2024 Grants Awards: https://bloomington.in.gov/news/2024/11/15/6099
  • 2023 Grants Awards: https://bloomington.in.gov/news/2023/08/21/5698
  • 2022 Grants Awards: https://bloomington.in.gov/news/2022/08/19/5277
  • 2021 Grants Awards: https://bloomington.in.gov/news/2021/08/09/4934
  • 2020 Grants Awards: https://bloomington.in.gov/news/2020/12/16/4698

• Digital Opportunity Initiative with Meridiam and GigabitNow
  • See information below.
  • For additional information: https://bloomington.in.gov/fiber

• Bloomington recognized as Digital Inclusion Trailblazer: 2022, 2021, 2023 & 2024(Coming Soon) 

• 2020 Digital Strategic Plan
  • The City developed as Digital Strategic Plan to improve internet accessibility and affordability for Bloomington residents.
    • City of Bloomington Digital Strategic Plan 20201220.pdf

Digital Survey

The City of Bloomington conducted a Digital Community survey assessing how residents use internet services in April 2020. The survey was sent to a randomized sample of 6,500 Bloomington households and was completed by 1,080 respondents. The survey’s full results are available here: https://bton.in/dcs02. 

Some preliminary findings from the Digital Community Survey include:

• Broadband service is available in Bloomington, but speed, reliability, customer service and cost factors limit adoption.
• Low-income households are much more likely to lack internet access or only have internet access through smart phones. 12% of low income respondents never interact with the internet.
• The homework gap (problems completing homework due to internet deficiencies) is significant for lower bandwidth households
• Existing subsidy programs from internet service providers aren’t fully being used by eligible residents.
• Caregivers are concerned about risks and their ability to protect minor children from online harms.
• Low income residents report a lack of desired computing skills and are interested in training to improve skills.
• The skills gap is pronounced for low income and older residents.  50% of respondents think they do not have the skills they need to use internet effectively and comfortably.
• Fully half of respondents said their job requires internet access at home.
• There is broad support for the City doing more to address digital opportunity issues and to improve broadband in Bloomington.