Broadband Action Plan; Digital Equity Plan; supplemental strategies

(1) The Oregon Broadband Office shall develop a Broadband Action Plan and a Digital Equity Plan that address the requirements of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58). (2) The Broadband Action Plan must, at a minimum, address: (a) Investment priorities; (b) Alignment of goals and needs; (c) Proposed plans to address needs; (d) Needs for technical assistance; and (e) The schedule for implementing plans. (3) The Digital Equity Plan must, at a minimum, address availability and affordability of broadband services based on: (a) Technology; (b) Online accessibility; (c) Digital literacy; (d) Privacy and cybersecurity; and (e) Devices and support. (4) The office may develop supplemental strategies, as necessary, to achieve availability of services and adoption of services by residents, businesses, schools and libraries throughout Oregon and to support federal planning requirements, including strategies to: (a) Support local communities and local and regional partners with broadband project planning and implementation and technical assistance. (b) Support project coordination between private and public entities. (c) Pursue and leverage private and public investment opportunities. (d) Guide development and implementation of state grant programs, including project review, procedures for appeal and project accountability and sustainability. (e) Support ongoing development and maintenance of mapping and data and associated analytic capabilities, including consumer adoption. (f) Evaluate existing system architecture in this state, including middle-mile infrastructure and exchange points, to ensure long-term adequacy and resiliency. (g) Support the Department of Education and State Library in implementing the purposes of the Connecting Oregon Schools Fund established in ORS 276A.424 and Connecting Oregon Libraries Fund established in ORS 357.790. (h) Evaluate the need and appropriateness of infrastructure redundancy. (i) Consider the appropriateness of open access requirements for state-funded projects. (j) Accelerate interagency engagement and collaboration to address barriers and accelerate access and adoption of services. (k) Identify policy and procedural changes to ease construction barriers. (L) Cost-effectively develop broadband in remote and high cost areas.