A plan to guide the territory’s efforts in developing broadband opportunities to achieve economic development, has been launched virtually.
The American Samoa Territorial Broadband Strategy was released during a zoom session which was streamed online on Facebook.
The lead agency Department of Commerce now has under its wing the Broadband Coordination, Opportunities, Redevelopment and Deployment Office which will lead implementation of the plan.
The broadband strategy was developed to be a resource to help the territory implement digital inclusion plans to reduce the digital divide and prioritize digital equity for its resident, says a press release from DOC.
It is viewed as the justifying foundation for over $40 million in federal grant applications so far, with many more opportunities expected in the very near future.
The plan will also guide prioritization of resources and implementation of key strategies to accelerate adoption of broadband across all industries.
Several committees and sub groups made input on the plan and devised strategies to achieve stated goals.
DOC Deputy Director Michael McDonald said during the launch that the first priority was establishing a coordinating office that will oversee the actual work. ASG has hired a Territorial Broadband Coordinator.
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“We are excited for the official launch of the American Samoa Territorial Broadband Strategy,” ASDOC Director Petti Matila said. “So much work has gone into making sure that it represents a consensus of our ambitions for using broadband in the future. It will lay the foundation for our efforts to achieve economic improvement through digital equity for years to come.”
The ASTBS was created through the support of the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA), which helps promote planning for innovation and economic growth across America’s states and territories.
The strategy document is available for download at https://tinyurl.com/h3pbhk9v or visit facebook.com/AmericanSamoaDepartmentOfCommerce.
