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Please Note

Your Self-Test score is based on full and complete answers to all questions. If you do not answer a question, your score will be reduced by the value of that question. If you wish to review the questions in advance, open the Self-Test and print the page.

1. Broadband

Availability means having the opportunity to subscribe to the service (“premises passed”) as a percentage of total premises, while adoption means actual subscriptions to the service as a percentage of total premises. The availability percentage should be higher than the adoption percentage.

a. Is the average household availability of broadband greater than 85% in your community?

Yes
No

b. Is average household broadband adoption greater than 80% in your community?

Yes
No

c. Check the boxes that identify the types of broadband service available in your community.

DSL
Cable
Fiber optic
Wireless ISP

d. Does your community have policies or programs in place to increase broadband availability?

Yes
No

e. Does your community have policies or programs in place to increase the adoption and use of broadband by citizens?

Yes
No

2. Knowledge Workforce

a. Check the boxes that indicate the technology offerings of public schools (elementary to secondary) in your community. (check all that apply)

Inclusion of information and communications technology – e.g., smart boards, laptops, tablets, digital textbooks, Web conferencing, social media – in classroom instruction
Interactive Web portal for students, teachers and parents
One-to-one laptop or handheld device program
Distance learning programs
Specialized classes in coding, robotics, digital media and related topics

b. Check the boxes that describe programs in your community fostering collaboration between secondary, technical/community and undergraduate/graduate institutions and local employers. (check all that apply)

Work-study programs provided as part of the curriculum by schools in partnership with employers
Summer & post-graduate internship programs provided in collaboration between schools and employers
Formal apprenticeship programs
Formal educational-employer task force, partnership or institute targeting employment issues
Career fairs and employer open house events
Customized skills training programs developed for local employers by educational institutions

c. Check the box that best represents the percentage of residents whose highest educational attainment is:

Community college or technical school certificate (“some college”)

Undergraduate or graduate degree

d. Check the box that best represents the number of community colleges or technical schools in your community or within a 1-hour, one-way commute for residents? Count individual campuses regardless of whether they may be operated by the same institution.

In your community:

Within commuting distance:

e. Check the box that best represents the number of undergraduate or graduate institutions in your community or within a 1-hour, one-way commute for residents? Count individual campuses regardless of whether they may be operated by the same institution.

In your community:

Within commuting distance:

3. Innovation

a. Does local government have policies in place to promote business, institutional and/or government innovation? If so, what is the status of those policies? (check one)

No policies
Administrative guidance only
Under discussion/ review by Council
Approved by Council
Published as public policy document

b. Which of the following innovation programs is available in your community from government, the private sector, public-private ventures or volunteer organizations? (check all that apply)

c. Which of the following online services is offered by local government or public agencies to improve quality of life? (check all that apply)

Open data sets
Web portal providing citizens with interactive services and transactions
Mobile apps providing citizens with interactive services and transactions
Online services specifically supporting sectors of the business community
Intelligent transportation management systems
Smart meter systems for utilities
Intelligent emergency management systems

4. Digital Equality

a. What facilities and services does your community offer to citizens who do not have their own online access? (check all that apply)

Free Wi-Fi hotspots
Free access to computers with broadband connections (for example, at public libraries)
Free ad hoc technical support for users
Free or low-cost formal classes in digital skills for users
Technology fairs, competitions or similar one-off/annual events
Outreach and training in more than one language
Programs to create community champions among excluded segments of the population
Computer donation or subsidy program for households without a computer
Subsidies or discount programs for broadband access

b. What facilities and services does your community offer to organizations (businesses, nonprofits, others) to promote digital adoption? (check all that apply)

Evaluation checklist to assess an organization’s digital readiness and training needs
General classes in digital skills and applications for organizations
Customized digital training programs for organizations
Technology demonstration center to educate on digital opportunities
Outreach and training in more than one language

5. Sustainability

a. Does local government track the following sustainability measures, based either on its own research or reporting from other organizations? (check all that apply)

Greenhouse gas emissions of the community? (not state, provincial or national)
Residential and commercial indoor water use?
Percentage of municipal waste that is recycled, composted or incinerated rather than going to landfill?
Percentage of all trips in the municipality that take place without an automobile?

b. What support does sustainability receive from the local government? (Check the button that best represents the situation in your community)

None
Statement of intent from elected officials
Department/staff resources dedicated to sustainability
Formal sustainability guidelines, framework or charter approved by Council
By-Laws approved by Council

6. Advocacy

a. In what ways does local government seek to educate and involve citizens and leaders in building a better future for the community? (check all that apply)

Citizen surveys on civic, planning and related issues
Open government meetings on civil, planning and related issues
Online engagement through email broadcast and/or access to streaming media
Online interaction through social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) and/or specialized collaboration systems
Development and publication of formal strategies or charters through government-organization-citizen collaboration
Creation of a government-citizen-organizational task force responsible for future planning and implementation
Progress reporting to the public on the result of formal strategies or charters

b. How do you communicate your economic and community development story to the outside world? (check all that apply)

Online marketing including a Web site and email broadcasting
Social media interaction (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Intstagram, etc.)
Print and/or digital advertising in site selection and other publications
Public relations targeting site selection and other publications
Participation in trade shows and conventions of target industries
Participation in state, provincial, national or multinational development projects
Trade missions to other cities and countries

c. Does your community have a documented strategy for economic & social development involving information and communications technology?

Yes
No

d. Does your community have a task force or group dedicated to carrying out the strategy?

Yes
No