Communications Tool Kit
The resources in this communications tool kit aims to provide helpful resources and materials to assist stakeholders and other organizations in promoting and encouraging engagement in the Internet Usage Survey that will be open through December 5, 2021.
Please help us in sharing the story by using the resources in the toolkit below to promote the survey.
Click a heading below to jump to a section:
Email Blast Materials
Proposed Email Subject: Help us develop a plan for the future of our region’s internet access
We’ve Launched a Public Survey to Help Improve Internet Access
We’re asking for your help. Please take the brief survey online or by phone about your internet usage, access, and experience.
You can win a $50 Visa gift card for completing the survey.
The input gathered from the survey is critical for the SWPA Connected team to develop programs that meet the needs of the region now and in the future. This initiative is not affiliated with any providers or intended to sell any internet services.
Take the survey online or by phone at 412-407-4555.
The improvement plan will outline and prioritize projects to bring high-speed broadband internet service to the communities that need it most.
The survey targets the 10-county region of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, and Westmoreland.
Survey questions will include information about internet connection types, how the internet is used and satisfaction of services. All information collected will be anonymous.
About Our Partnership
The Southwestern Pennsylvania (SWPA) Connected is a regional consortium that includes the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC), Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), Allies for Children, and a diverse group of regional partners to develop an equitable Connectivity Improvement Plan to provide affordable, reliable broadband internet access across the region.
This survey builds upon workshops and community conversations, in addition to research and analysis of current broadband internet access and gaps in the region. To learn more about the SWPA Connected initiative, visit www.spcregion.org/connected/.
Social Media Tool Kit
Please utilize the social media posts frequently and leverage the audience post most appropriate for your stakeholders. Please be sure to also leverage the reminder posts as the December 5 deadline grows closer.
Download the Social Media Tool Kit PDF or Word document to modify to fit your needs easily.
Press Release Materials
For Immediate Release
November 15, 2021
Regional partnership launches public survey to inform future of internet connectivity investments
Survey will be open through December 5, 2021
Pittsburgh, PA – The Southwestern Pennsylvania (SWPA) Connected initiative is asking community members to take a brief survey online or by phone to provide information about their current internet access and experience.
Eligible participants can win a $50 Visa gift card for completing the survey.
SWPA Connected is a regional consortium that includes the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC), Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), Allies for Children, and a diverse group of regional partners to develop an equitable Connectivity Improvement Plan to provide affordable, reliable broadband internet access across the region. This initiative is not affiliated with any internet provider and is not intended to sell any internet services. Rather, it seeks to guide the region’s future internet investments that can be made now that the historic infrastructure bill has passed, which includes $65 billion for broadband.
“Our goal is to help bring affordable, reliable internet access to all in our region,” said SPC Executive Director Vincent Valdes. “We need the input of our residents, businesses and neighbors so that we can work together to overcome barriers and develop solutions that make broadband access what it truly should be; a required service that is always provided.”
Individuals are urged to take the survey online or by phone at 412-407-4555 by December 5, 2021. Survey questions will include information about internet connection types, how the internet is used and satisfaction of services. All information collected will be anonymous.
“The pandemic has disproportionately impacted children, parents and the 500,000 Pennsylvanians that lack internet access which meant they had no access to school or health services during a global crisis,” stated Jamie Baxter, executive director at Allies for Children. “I am frequently reminded of one Lawrence County woman’s struggle to support her special needs son’s online learning internet costs, while worrying how she would also afford to pay rent to live. This is unacceptable. This survey and these community conversations are helping to frame the issue and identify barriers and the solutions needed to ensure that children have the resources they need to grow and thrive.”
This survey builds upon virtual workshops and regional community conversations, in addition to research and data analysis of current broadband internet access and gaps. Data dashboards have been developed visualizing the access, adoption, and affordability across the 10-county region.
The improvement plan will outline and prioritize internet connectivity projects that bring high-speed broadband service to the communities that need it most providing access to jobs, support services, education, health care, and new business.
The input gathered from the internet usage survey is critical for the SWPA Connected team to develop programs that meet the needs of the region now and in the future.
“This survey and initiative are vital for our entire community,” said CMU’s Karen Lightman, Director of Metro21: Smart Cities Institute. “CMU strives to address the real-world problems facing our region by deploying technology in collaboration with our equity and municipal partners. The goal of this connectivity plan is to help ensure our region has equitable, affordable and reliable access to the internet, which is a basic human right like access to electricity and water.”
“This effort is a great example of how the private and public sectors can join forces to improve the lives of Pennsylvanians through real conversations, research, data gathering, and bringing all the right groups, including citizens to the table,” said Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Executive Director of Corporate Relations Sheri Collins. “We continue to seek ways in which to utilize federal funding, bringing high-speed broadband to Pennsylvania’s unserved and underserved communities. The SWPA Connected initiative stands as a potential framework that can be leveraged to help other communities identify where and how to invest.”
The survey is targeted to only gather information from residents, community members, and businesses residing in the SPC 10-county region of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, and Westmoreland.
To learn more about the SWPA Connected initiative, visit www.spcregion.org/connected/.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Shannon O’Connell, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, 412-707-3567
Caitlin Kizielewicz, Carnegie Mellon University, 412-554-0074
Jamie Baxter, Allies for Children, 412-583-0074
Penny Ickes, PA Department of Community and Economic Development, DCEDpress@pa.gov
Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission – The regional planning agency serving the 10-county Southwestern PA region that directs the use of state and federal transportation and economic development funds.
Allies for Children – Allies for Children builds alliances and serves as a bold voice for policy and practice changes that improve the wellbeing of all children in the Allegheny region.
Carnegie Mellon University – A private, global research university, Carnegie Mellon is a model for economic development and forming partnerships with private and public sectors.
SUGGESTED POST TEXT:
Do you have internet access?
We’re looking to improve our region’s access to affordable, reliable internet. (We’re not selling it!)
Take this brief survey so we can plan connectivity projects to help you in the future!
💻 Online: https://bit.ly/3w99EVA
☎ By Phone: 412-407-4555
Download:
Twitter Image (JPG)
SUGGESTED POST TEXT:
Do you have internet access?
We need to know how our residents and communities are currently served.)
Take the survey & enter to win a $50 Visa gift card!
📲 Online: https://bit.ly/3w99EVA
📞 By Phone: 412-407-4555
Download:
Twitter Image (JPG)
SUGGESTED POST TEXT:
The pandemic showed us how important internet access is. We want to know if you have affordable, reliable access where you are.
✍ Let us know in this brief survey and you could win a $50 Visa gift card!
👩💻 Online: https://bit.ly/3w99EVA
📱 By Phone: 412-407-4555
Download:
Twitter Image (JPG)
SUGGESTED POST TEXT:
📢 No one should be without internet access anymore. We’re aiming to ensure all our communities have affordable, reliable access.
To do that, we need your help. Tell us about your current internet access and how you use it.
Your info will be anonymous and will only be used to create a Connectivity Improvement Plan for the region.
👉 Online: https://bit.ly/3w99EVA
☎ By Phone: 412-407-4555
Download:
Twitter Image (JPG)
SUGGESTED POST TEXT:
Make your voice heard and help us as we develop an improvement plan to provide affordable, reliable internet access to your community.
Take the survey & enter to win a $50 Visa gift card!
📲 Online: https://bit.ly/3w99EVA
📞 By Phone: 412-407-4555
Download:
Twitter Image (JPG)
SUGGESTED POST TEXT:
Do you have trouble doing your schoolwork because of internet access?
Take this brief survey to help us create a plan to help your future.
You could also win a $50 Visa gift card!
📲 Online: https://bit.ly/3w99EVA
📞 By Phone: 412-407-4555
Download:
Twitter Image (JPG)
SUGGESTED POST TEXT:
Is homework even harder than it needs to be because of internet access needs?
Help us help students like you by filling out this brief survey!
You could win a $50 Visa gift card, too!
👩💻 Online: https://bit.ly/3w99EVA
📱 By Phone: 412-407-4555
Download:
Twitter Image (JPG)
Spanish Facebook Image (JPG)
Spanish Twitter Image (JPG)
SUGGESTED POST TEXT:
Is your children’s education even more stressful because of the need for internet access?
We’re looking to improve our region’s access to affordable, reliable internet. (We’re not selling it!)
Take this brief survey so we can plan connectivity projects to help you in the future!
💻 Online: https://bit.ly/3w99EVA
☎ By Phone: 412-407-4555
Download:
Twitter Image (JPG)
SUGGESTED POST TEXT:
Are you aware of students and families impacted by their lack of affordable, reliable internet access?
We want to know how your communities are currently served and how we can help.
✍ Let us know in this brief survey and you could win a $50 Visa gift card!
👩💻 Online: https://bit.ly/3w99EVA
📱 By Phone: 412-407-4555
Download:
Twitter Image (JPG)
SUGGESTED POST TEXT:
Tell us about it. Take our survey 📄 and be a part of improving internet affordability + reliability in your community.
Take this brief survey to help us create a plan to help your future.
📲 Online: https://bit.ly/3w99EVA
📞 By Phone: 412-407-4555
Download:
Twitter Image (JPG)
SUGGESTED POST TEXT:
We want your input. Please complete our internet usage survey and help us as we work to improve internet access in our region for all.
💻 Online: https://bit.ly/3w99EVA
☎ By Phone: 412-407-4555
Download:
Twitter Image (JPG)
SUGGESTED POST TEXT:
🗣 Make your voice heard and help us as we develop an improvement plan to provide affordable, reliable internet access to your community.
Take the survey by 🗓 December 5! ⬇
📲 Online: https://bit.ly/3w99EVA
📞 By Phone: 412-407-4555
Download:
Twitter Image (JPG)
Simplified Chinese Facebook Image (JPG)
Simplified Chinese Twitter Image (JPG)
SUGGESTED POST TEXT:
⏰ Time is almost up for you to tell us about your internet access and experience. Deadline to fill out the survey is Sunday, Dec. 5.
Don’t miss your chance to win a $50 Visa gift card!
💻 Online: https://bit.ly/3w99EVA
☎ By Phone: 412-407-4555
Download:
Twitter Image (JPG)
SUGGESTED POST TEXT:
⏳ You still have time to tell us about it. Take our survey by this SUNDAY, Dec. 5 🗓 and be a part of improving internet affordability + reliability in your community.
💻 Online: https://bit.ly/3w99EVA
☎ By Phone: 412-407-4555
Download:
Twitter Image (JPG)