HADLEY — Residents with a disadvantage in getting reliable digital service, mostly through broadband supplied by Charter Spectrum, are the focus of a municipal digital equity plan being developed by the town’s Digital Equity Steering Committee.

On Jan. 7 at 6:30 p.m., at the Hadley Senior Center, 46 Middle St., the committee is soliciting input for how the town can help residents, especially those considered vulnerable, such as older adults and low-income residents, get more consistent and affordable internet, access digital skills through digital literacy training and have equitable access to digital devices.

“The ultimate goal is to bridge the digital divide, however there is no one-size-fits-all approach,” Hadley Media Director Alexander LaMarche said in a statement.

LaMarche, who staffs the steering committee, said as a rural farming community of more than 5,000 people, Hadley has different needs than Northampton and Springfield, and also has a lack of broadband in certain areas of town, including on both Cemetery and Honey Pot roads.

Before the public hearing, an open house starts at 3 p.m. The hearing, to get information to include in the municipal digital equity plan, will involve consultants from Kimley-Horn of Waltham.

Hadley is one of 105 communities across the state drafting such a plan, being put together through a program of the Massachusetts Broadband Institute. In addition to hosting townwide listening sessions, Hadley also will implement digital literacy courses and health technology training.

“Local governments understand the challenges that their communities face, so it’s important that we work with them to collect accurate data and identify the needs of underserved residents,” MBI Director Michael Baldino said in October.

Digital equity is defined as “a condition in which all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy and economy,” according to the National Digital Inclusion Alliance.

Article 6.1 of the cable license awarded to Charter Spectrum by the town of Hadley on March 6, 2024 states that Charter Spectrum will only provide internet and cable services to residences within a 20 mile linear strand mile of aerial cable.

“Even though these licenses are non-exclusive, and even though there are folks who would want to see competition, companies like Comcast will not compete or branch out in communities they already aren’t in,” stated LaMarche.

Earlier in December, LaMarche made a request to the Planning Board, acting in its capacity as the Affordable Housing Trust, about tapping money in the trust fund to cover the costs of extending broadband along Cemetery and Honey Pot roads, as well as to one home on Moody Bridge Road.

Town support may be necessary, LaMarche said, because Charter Spectrum otherwise won’t hard wire these homes, whose residents are using DSL, hot spots, satellite and other means of getting internet that are less reliable. LaMarche said the equity issue fits with the trust’s mission.

Currently, 32 Hadley homes are not connected to broadband.

The Planning Board took the request under advisement, Chairman James Maksimoski said it’s also possible that Community Preservation Act money could support the infrastructure buildout.

LaMarche said the money from the trust should be seen as a “backup plan to the backup plan” to get broadband to all Hadley homes.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.