Vision

The City of Austin vision includes every Austin resident having an opportunity to be fully engaged in digital society, accessing and using digital and communications technology.

Purpose

The purpose is to address access and adoption of digital technology, to serve as a guiding document for providing digital inclusion opportunities in effecting the City’s goals to ensure all Austin residents are served.

Goals

  • To understand and increase usage of digital and communications technology
    • 8% of adults do not use the Internet on any device
    • Initiatives: Include 3.3, Integrate 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, Coordinate 5.3, 5.4 & 5.6 will help to achieve this goal
  • To address potential barriers to digital inclusion
    • Relevancy is a barrier to non-users, 40% of whom are not interested in using the Internet
    • Initiatives: Engage 2.6, Include 3.1 & 3.2 will help to achieve this goal
  • To understand the need for digital literacy training
    • 42% of non-users would need someone to help them to get online
    • Initiatives: Engage 2.5, Coordinate 5.1 & 5.2 will help to achieve this goal
  • To understand the need for access via reliable & affordable devices
    • Nearly all adults own cell phones, and 83% own smart phones
    • Initiatives: Include 3.4, Coordinate 5.1 & 5.2 will help to achieve this goal
  • To understand the need for language & disability accommodations
    • 1 in 4 non-users feel they do not speak English well enough to use the Internet
    • Initiatives: Include 3.5 & 3.6 will help to achieve this goal
  • To develop relevancy & advocacy campaigns with specific communities & populations
    • Internet non-users primarily live in Southwest Austin
      Initiatives: Connect 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, Engage 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, & Coordinate 5.5 will help to achieve this goal