After the million-dollar allocation from the federal Government for Puerto Rico, which will enable the construction of the broadband infrastructure necessary to close the digital divide on the island, the Government of Puerto Rico has created the Smart Island program that seeks to develop and maximize initiatives in key areas to achieve high speed internet in Puerto Rico.

“At this early stage of the program, it is important to define what the specific needs of each municipality are. For this reason, it is necessary to identify, through citizens, those key points that allow us to develop the 5-year Strategic Plan required by the PRBP, which will ensure that the funds allocated to Puerto Rico are used within the established terms and will ensure that the broadband infrastructure necessary to close the digital divide on the island is built promptly,” said the Assistant Secretary of the Government for Innovation, Information, Data and Technology, Enrique Völckers Nin.

One of the methods for knowing and identifying the specific needs of citizens is through the Internet Service survey, which will help, among other things, to know if the person has an Internet connection in their homes, the download speed of the Internet connection, skills in online activities such as using a computer or tablet, carrying out government transactions online, knowing what information is safe to share online, among others, and identifying what they mainly use the Internet for people in Puerto Rico.

“This survey is available in www.smartisland.pr.gov/survey and will reveal to us information that will help us in planning and developing the strategies necessary to coordinate, authorize and execute the disbursement of local and federal funds allocated to Puerto Rico for the construction of broadband infrastructure on the Island. It is important that citizens complete this survey to help us in the development of the various initiatives that we will be developing through the PRBP that will reduce the digital divide on the Island,” added Völckers Nin.

For the past few months, personnel assigned to the Smart Island program have participated in the Fortaleza por Puerto Rico initiative, in which government services are brought directly to municipalities. Specifically, they have assisted citizens in filling out the Internet Service survey, as well as providing guidance on the program, expectations and developments that will take place on the Island to reduce the digital divide.

The Puerto Rico Broadband Program is under the Office of Management and Budget (OGP) and was created by Governor Pedro R. Pierluisi through Executive Order 20240. Its mission is to reduce the digital divide on the island with projects that improve citizen access to broadband connectivity and provide all Puerto Ricans with access to high speed internet at affordable prices. For additional details of the Puerto Rico Broadband Program, you can visit https (https://www.smartisland.pr.gov

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