This blog will allow me to share Digital Inclusion resources, and stimulate discussion around this critically important topic.Please participate!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Blogging Digital Inclusion: Efforts & Resources
This blog will allow me to share Digital Inclusion resources, and stimulate discussion around this critically important topic.Please participate!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Public Comment, BTOP Grants
In response to the open comments period at NTIA regarding the BTOP grants, I have submitted the following comment. Also have been working with Emy Tseng and David Keys (SF and Seattle) on Emy's two minute presentation for later today...Apologies to my friends at Libraries and Community Colleges, this is in no way a slam for the work you do, simply an expansion of the definition of technology programming/ providers or intermediaries in the federal language.
"Those of us involved in Digital Inclusion efforts feel strongly that federal funds/grants should focus on strengthening the capacity of local, community-based Digital Inclusion programs.
Community-based programming, delivered through social service agencies, stresses the importance of helping residents in underserved communities learn basic technology skills. While access to computers and broadband are important, what is most needed is training and support for new technology users.
We heard this loud and clear from underserved residents via community surveys and town hall meetings held in conjunction with our City’s Wireless Initiative (Wireless Minneapolis). As a result, Minneapolis’ Digital Inclusion efforts reflect this.
National efforts often fail to identify or address existing barriers to digital inclusion that local programs both understand and successfully address through innovative programming.
Libraries are terrific at making computers and the Internet available, but Libraries do not have the staff or expertise to teach technology literacy, or help individual residents seek jobs, education, or resources online.
Community Colleges are great at helping students and staff navigate online technologies, but do not provide resources for those outside of their college communities, such as recent immigrants, youth, seniors and people with disabilities.
Community Technology Centers (CTCs) are critical to reaching new and novice technology users, and are instrumental in developing workforce initiatives from skills training through online job search.
Municipalities and Community Foundations are often in the best position to oversee and leverage CTC programs at the local level, and can engage private partners to help advance adoption and use.
We urge this committee to expand the eligible grantee list to specifically invite Municipalities and Community Foundations to act as “re-grantors” or regional grantees for BTOP funds.
From our perspective, national non-profits and state governments have been neither effective or efficient in various Digital Inclusion efforts over the past decade, so we ask the committee to favor locally originated, community based programming over national efforts in terms of this grant program.
"Those of us involved in Digital Inclusion efforts feel strongly that federal funds/grants should focus on strengthening the capacity of local, community-based Digital Inclusion programs.
Community-based programming, delivered through social service agencies, stresses the importance of helping residents in underserved communities learn basic technology skills. While access to computers and broadband are important, what is most needed is training and support for new technology users.
We heard this loud and clear from underserved residents via community surveys and town hall meetings held in conjunction with our City’s Wireless Initiative (Wireless Minneapolis). As a result, Minneapolis’ Digital Inclusion efforts reflect this.
National efforts often fail to identify or address existing barriers to digital inclusion that local programs both understand and successfully address through innovative programming.
Libraries are terrific at making computers and the Internet available, but Libraries do not have the staff or expertise to teach technology literacy, or help individual residents seek jobs, education, or resources online.
Community Colleges are great at helping students and staff navigate online technologies, but do not provide resources for those outside of their college communities, such as recent immigrants, youth, seniors and people with disabilities.
Community Technology Centers (CTCs) are critical to reaching new and novice technology users, and are instrumental in developing workforce initiatives from skills training through online job search.
Municipalities and Community Foundations are often in the best position to oversee and leverage CTC programs at the local level, and can engage private partners to help advance adoption and use.
We urge this committee to expand the eligible grantee list to specifically invite Municipalities and Community Foundations to act as “re-grantors” or regional grantees for BTOP funds.
From our perspective, national non-profits and state governments have been neither effective or efficient in various Digital Inclusion efforts over the past decade, so we ask the committee to favor locally originated, community based programming over national efforts in terms of this grant program.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Senate Network Neutrality Hearing Recap
Thanks again to the Benton Foundation for coverage on this issue-- network neutrality is a critically important component in any Digital Inclusion strategy. The FCC position on this as expressed by Chairman Martin is encouraging. For the hearing recap, visit http://tinyurl.com/5fhvxc
Friday, April 11, 2008
Digital Inclusion White Paper
I found this interesting report on the W2i website. It's very academic, but it's about time someone starting looking at the issue in this kind of detail, and internationally.
Benchmarking Digital Inclusion
Download the entire report here (pdf)
A White Paper by gov3 limited
At the World Summit on the Information Society, every national government in the world
committed itself to build a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society. This White Paper is intended to help them measure their progress towards this goal, and to identify sources of international government best practice to help them succeed.
--The current level of Internet use in society: which countries are now ahead?
--Growth trends in Internet use: which countries are enjoying strongest continued
growth in Internet use, and which are starting to slow down?
--Future drivers for increased Internet user: how do countries compare on the three
factors which are identified in "Achieving Digital Inclusion" as the key drivers of Internet
use: access, confidence and motivation?
Benchmarking Digital Inclusion
Download the entire report here (pdf)
A White Paper by gov3 limited
At the World Summit on the Information Society, every national government in the world
committed itself to build a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society. This White Paper is intended to help them measure their progress towards this goal, and to identify sources of international government best practice to help them succeed.
--The current level of Internet use in society: which countries are now ahead?
--Growth trends in Internet use: which countries are enjoying strongest continued
growth in Internet use, and which are starting to slow down?
--Future drivers for increased Internet user: how do countries compare on the three
factors which are identified in "Achieving Digital Inclusion" as the key drivers of Internet
use: access, confidence and motivation?
Monday, February 4, 2008
Digital Inclusion Fund Announces First Round of Grantees
The Digital Inclusion Fund has awarded grants to nine local agencies working to ensure Digital Inclusion in the Twin Cities. For a list of grantees (and advisors) visit:
http://www.digitalaccess.org/dif_advisors.htm
http://www.digitalaccess.org/dif_advisors.htm
Monday, January 21, 2008
MN Take Notice: California Broadband Report Released Today
The California Broadband Task Force today released their final report, "The State of
Connectivity – Building Innovation Through Broadband."
This comprehensive and well-written report "includes maps of current broadband availability and speed,recommendations to achieve universal access and increased use, and a timeframe in which to meet these critical goals."
The report is available online at www.calink.ca.gov/taskforcereport/
Minnesota state officials should take notice: if we wish to compete in a 21st Century economy, our first step should be to find out where we are today with broadband connectivity across the state (asset mapping).
From a "Digital Inclusion" perspective, this report calls for increased funding to support existing technology literacy efforts, expand computer refurbishing and placement programs (working with community colleges, a great idea!) , and increase technology support for rural schools and small businesses.
Required reading for anyone interested in economic sustainability, education, technology, health care or social inclusion-- i.e., pretty much everyone.
Connectivity – Building Innovation Through Broadband."
This comprehensive and well-written report "includes maps of current broadband availability and speed,recommendations to achieve universal access and increased use, and a timeframe in which to meet these critical goals."
The report is available online at www.calink.ca.gov/taskforcereport/
Minnesota state officials should take notice: if we wish to compete in a 21st Century economy, our first step should be to find out where we are today with broadband connectivity across the state (asset mapping).
From a "Digital Inclusion" perspective, this report calls for increased funding to support existing technology literacy efforts, expand computer refurbishing and placement programs (working with community colleges, a great idea!) , and increase technology support for rural schools and small businesses.
Required reading for anyone interested in economic sustainability, education, technology, health care or social inclusion-- i.e., pretty much everyone.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Project History
The Digital Access Project (DA) was founded in 1998 by a handful of community media volunteers interested in ensuring that all area residents benefited from emerging technologies and the Internet.
Launched as a demonstration project, DA volunteers and Interns used a wireless-enabled, mobile media lab to introduce media technology tools and skills to area youth and adults. We collaborated with non-formal education providers such as City Parks, Libraries and Community Technology Centers (CTCs), providing specialized workshop and summer camp programs. By 2001, DA programming was in such high demand that we were unable to meet the needs of area agencies. In response, we began a community organizing effort to identify and support CTCs interested in offering similar technology programs at their public access labs. In subsequent years, the Digital Access Project has sponsored several regional Community Technology Conferences, secured a major federal AmeriCorps grant, and led a Community Benefits Agreement effort in conjunction with the City of Minneapolis’ Wireless Initiative.
Our current focus is to report on and influence local, state and federal technology policy to ensure support for Digital Inclusion efforts. It is our position that ubiquitous, affordable broadband access must be coupled with support for techology literacy programming and local, relevant content development in order to empower our communities for 21st century learning, employment and social/civic engagement.
Launched as a demonstration project, DA volunteers and Interns used a wireless-enabled, mobile media lab to introduce media technology tools and skills to area youth and adults. We collaborated with non-formal education providers such as City Parks, Libraries and Community Technology Centers (CTCs), providing specialized workshop and summer camp programs. By 2001, DA programming was in such high demand that we were unable to meet the needs of area agencies. In response, we began a community organizing effort to identify and support CTCs interested in offering similar technology programs at their public access labs. In subsequent years, the Digital Access Project has sponsored several regional Community Technology Conferences, secured a major federal AmeriCorps grant, and led a Community Benefits Agreement effort in conjunction with the City of Minneapolis’ Wireless Initiative.
Our current focus is to report on and influence local, state and federal technology policy to ensure support for Digital Inclusion efforts. It is our position that ubiquitous, affordable broadband access must be coupled with support for techology literacy programming and local, relevant content development in order to empower our communities for 21st century learning, employment and social/civic engagement.
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