Expanding Broadband Access and Adoption in Underserved

Communities

Introductions

• Kami Griffiths, Community Technology Network & Tech Soup

• David Keyes, City of Seattle

• Ruth Williams, ZeroDivide

• Karen Manuel, Communities Connect Network & EdLab Group

• Audience

Broadband Adoption or Digital Inclusion

Definition:• bringing the benefit of the Internet and

related technology to everyone, including people who are disadvantaged due to education, age, gender, disabilities, income, ethnicity, and/or those living in remote areas.

• 3 components necessary for adoption

Broadband Adoption

• 35 percent of American adults, or 80 million people, do not have high-speed Internet access in their homes.

• ARRA: $7 billion in federal stimulus funding for broadband access and adoption

• http://www.broadband.gov/

National Broadband Plan• Improve digital literacy for all Americans• Proposes to allot more wireless spectrum for

mobile devices• Redirect some subsidies toward broadband

access• Develop a nationwide network for emergency

first responders and create a “digital literacy corps” to train new users.

• Improve access, speed, and affordability• Use broadband to track energy consumption

Broadband Adoption Programs

Communities Connect Network•Council on Digital Inclusion•State grant program•CT defined in state law•State directory of CT•Member of broadband task forces•Advised state economic dev strategy•Capacity building for CTs

www.communitiesconnect.org

CTN: City of San Francisco

• Connect housing developments to City fiber

• Create wireless network• Create/upgrade computer center• Advocate for programming

– Academy of Science/BGC– BTOP Proposal: DAAS & CTN– BAVC– Access Now

City of Seattle• Cable revenues help support programs• Use community trusted partnerships

– Tech Matching Fund grants since 1997• IT Indicators to measure needs and changes• 500 cable modems for non-profits & CTCs• Computer security brochure & training• Brainstorm• PugetSoundOff.org• Seniors Training Seniors• Communities Online Project• Seattle.gov/tech

ZeroDivide Supports• Little Tokyo Unplugged

– community wireless network that provides Wi- Fi Internet services to local residents, visitors, small businesses, and the nonprofit community.

• Tribal Digital Village– provides broadband internet service in rural Tribal

communities that currently do not have service. • Self Help for the Elderly

– provides technological education and curriculum tailored to the cultural needs of the aged.

• Central American Resource Center– provides no-fee after school programs for youth,

focusing on technology education, interdisciplinary art, literacy and youth leadership.

Training and Support

• Best practices/resource portal

• Network directory

• Volunteer management support• Lab management• Partnership building, including content• Tracking/Evaluation• Marketing/Promotion• Fundraising/Sustainability• Advocacy

Coming Soon: Searchable Directory

Coming Soon: Searchable Resources

Ways to Utilize Volunteers

• Lab Monitor/Tutors

• Trainers/Lead Workshops

• Technicians

• Administrative– Writing– Marketing– Fundraising– Data Entry

Volunteer Programs

Recruiting• Service Learning: high

school/colleges• Corporate Volunteer

Managers• Community Service

Programs

Training/Support• Train-the-trainer• Training material• Interact with other

volunteers• Share best practices• Ensure that they’re

utilized• Show appreciation• Offer certification/job

development

Discussion

• kmanuel@edlabgroup.org

• kgriffiths@techsoupglobal.org

• david.keyes@seattle.gov

• ruth@zerodivide.org

Links

• Zerodivide.org• cctpg.org/• www.communitiesconnect.org• Seattle.gov/tech• ctcnet.org/what/resources/startup_manual.htm• ctnbayarea.org/• UW Technology & Social Change Group

http://cis.washington.edu/• http://www.techforall.org