BPD Office expands digital equity dialogue with town halls on Rota, Tinian

The CNMI Broadband Policy and Development Office, established under the CNMI Office of the Governor, will expand digital equity talks in the CNMI by hosting digital equity town hall events on both Rota and Tinian.

This initiative follows the BPD Office’s digital equity town hall event held on Saipan on Feb. 27, 2024 and the unveiling of its Digital Equity Plan on March 6, 2024, ensuring that all CNMI residents have equal access and opportunity to learn about the Digital Equity Plan.

The BPD team will visit Rota on March 19-20, 2024, with a town hall event scheduled for Tuesday, March 19, from 5pm to 6pm at the Rota Mayor’s Office Conference Hall. The visit to Tinian is set for March 22-23, 2024, with a town hall meeting on Saturday, March 23, 2024, from 10am to 11am at the Tinian Public Library. These sessions will offer community members a detailed look into the digital equity plan’s strategies and initiatives aimed at bridging the digital divide.

With the digital equity plan now open for public comment and review until April 6, 2024, at 4:30pm ChSt, the BPD Office highly encourages community feedback as it contributes to enhancing the plan to better align with the needs of CNMI residents. The plan highlights the CNMI BPD Office’s vision to a digitally inclusive environment across the CNMI’s diverse populations, including low-income households, aging individuals, veterans, and people with disabilities, among others.

Residents of Rota and Tinian are encouraged to participate in the upcoming town hall events to learn more about the Digital Equity Plan and to also contribute their insights and feedback. The insights gathered from these discussions will be instrumental in shaping a digitally inclusive future for all CNMI residents.

The BPD Office encourages everyone to participate in this important process. To view the workplan and submit comments, visit their website at bpd.cnmi.gov or email them directly at cnmi.bpd@gmail.com. Additionally, bi-weekly virtual meetings are held every other Friday at 3pm to provide updates on their progress within the Digital Equity Program. To access the bi-weekly virtual meetings, visit the link on their website bpd.cnmi.gov or contact them at cnmi.bpd@gmail.com. (PR)