About Us
Southern Tier Digital Equity Coalition (STDEC)
The Southern Tier Digital Equity Coalition (STDEC) is a community-centered group that encourages the exchange of information and sharing of resources to foster digital equity for all residents of the Southern Tier region of New York State. STDEC was established in 2023.
STDEC provides the forum for organizations providing digital equity services in the Southern Tier of New York to discuss strategies, share best practices, and advocate for digital equity issues in the region. While individual Coalition members provide programs and services to all of the covered populations through their work, right now the Coalition itself does not deliver programs or services, or support those organizations who do.
STDEC’s primary counties are Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Delaware, Schuyler, Steuben, Tompkins, and Tioga. Its membership consists of organizations and individuals residing within or providing services to those counties, though it also may cover contiguous counties not served by a digital equity coalition or by STDEC digital equity projects.
Primary Goals of STDEC
- Advocate for residents to have equitable access to digital resources;
- Convene diverse stakeholders who are invested in and affected by digital equity issues;
- Share digital equity opportunities with stakeholders and residents.
New York State Digital Equity Network (NYSDEN)
STDEC is a member of the New York State Digital Equity Network (NYSDEN), as are many other regional coalitions around the state.
See NYSDEN’s website to read about their activities and membership here.
ConnectAll Office (CAO)
ConnectAll is a $1 billion program, begun by Governor Kathy Hochul, to deliver broadband to all New Yorkers. The ConnectAll Office, with the help of regional coalitions including STDEC, developed the New York State Digital Equity Plan in 2024.
See the full details of what the ConnectAll Office does at their website.
Board Members
Co-Chair: Jeffrey Zane Hansen, Mission: Ignite!
Co-Chair: Mary-Carol Lindbloom, South Central Regional Library Council
Treasurer: Brian Hildreth, Southern Tier Library System
Secretary: Claire Lovell, South Central Regional Library Council
Steve Bachman, Four County Library System
Sarah Gloglowski, Finger Lakes Library System
Interested in joining STDEC? Email Claire Lovell at clovell@scrlc.org.
