Archive for December, 2009
FCC Conferences with Net Literacy to Further Discuss Our Filings With the Commission
The FCC contacted Net Literacy to further discuss the 40 page filing submitted earlier this month.
In summary, Net Literacy recommended that a digital literacy corps be established, Executive Order 12999 be strengthened so that schools receive a “right of first refusal” for all computers deemed surplus by the Federal Government, and that the National Broadband Plan provide priority to the families of K-12 students on free or assisted lunch programs and without a computer at home when allocating hardware and broadband connectivity resources.
The Ex Parte filing can be viewed by clicking on this link.
For additional information, please contact Daniel Kent at [email protected].
Net Literacy to Join Broadband For America’s Broadband Adoption Committee
Broadband for America’s (www.broadbandforamerica.com) mission is to make broadband access to the internet available to every household in the nation; to provide data transfer speeds to make that broadband experience valuable to users; and to provide the bandwidth necessary for content providers to continue to make the internet a cultural, societal, and economic engine for growth. Over 100 member organizations belong to this consortium, including Net Literacy.
Increasing broadband adoption is a priority for Broadband for America, and an Adoption Committee is being formed during the first quarter of 2010. Net Literacy (www.netliteracy.org) was the first organization to be formally invited to participate on the Adoption Committee.
In a recent filing with the FCC, Net Literacy called for K-12 students on free or assisted lunch programs and without a computer at home receive priority receiving free or discounted hardware and broadband connections. Net Literacy called for the creation of a national digital literacy corps (www.digitaliteracycorps.org) and that Executive Order 12999 be strengthened so that schools received a “right of first refusal” to received computers deemed surplus by the Federal Government. The filing is available at http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/comment/view?z=yx57b&id=6015500723
For additional information, please contact [email protected].
Bright House Networks Supports Net Literacy for a Fifth Year
Bright House Networks has agreed to support Net Literacy (www.netliteracy.org) for a fifth year, enabling Net Literacy’s digital literacy corps of student volunteers to offer its five core programs in five counties throughout Indiana. The Net Literacy – Bright House Networks has increased computer access to tens of thousands of non-adopters during their partnership together, and will be providing 36 computers to six Hendricks County nonprofits in January.
For the third year, Bright House will also support Net Literacy’s Internet safety PSA program (www.safeconnects.org) by providing a substantial number of advertising avails in its franchised areas. Over 100,000 individuals have viewed Net Literacy’s Internet safety PSAs, helping to make the Internet a more friendly and comfortable place for everyone. Bright House Networks will also fund the production of five additional PSAs.
For additional information, please contact [email protected].
Net Literacy’s “digital literacy corps” (http://www.digitalliteracycorps.org) of youth volunteers are repurposing almost 700 computers and will donate them to targeted schools that have high populations of students whom use English as a New Language (ENL).
In a response to a request for information from the FCC, Net Literacy proposed that the Commission target ENL populations on a priority basis and provide them resources in the National Broadband Plan. Also in this paper, Net Literacy proposed that K-12 students on free or assisted lunches and without a computer at home have the highest priority and receive free or subsidized computers and broadband ahead of all other population groups with low broadband adoption rates.
This new initiative, funded via a generous grant from the Clowes Fund, will enable 700 ENL families (approximately 2250 K-12 students) to receive a computer to help them with their school work. The program commences in January and will also provide approximately 975 adults in the 700 household access to a computer, impacting a total of approximately 3,000 Hoosiers.
Net Literacy has recently completed a computer and Internet training manual in Spanish, and the training manuals will be available on a refreshed Senior Connects (www.seniorconnects.org) website later this month. The Senior Connects website contains all basic computer, Internet and email lesson plans for the Senior Connects and the Community Connects (www.communityconnects.org) programs. It is available at no cost to all in English, Spanish, and Russian versions.
The Clowes Fund has supported the Computer Connects (www.computerconnects.org) program since 2008, and has recently invited Net Literacy to apply for a multi-year grant in 2010.
For additional information, visit www.netliteracy.org or contact Don Kent at [email protected].
Digital Literacy Corps & The Verizon Foundation to Increase Computer Access to 10,000 Hoosiers
Net Literacy’s (www.netliteracy.org) digital literacy corps of student volunteers are repurposing hundreds of computers that will be donated to senior centers, youth centers, and community centers throughout Indiana’s rural counties. Thanks to a generous grant by the Verizon Foundation, Net Literacy has rented additional storage space and has repurposed and staged over 200 computers with hundreds of additional computers still in process.
The Lt. Governor’s office has asked Net Literacy to help increase computer access in Indiana’s rural counties, and student volunteers from several schools are working hard so that 500 computers are completed by February 15, 2010 to launch this initiative.
Lt. Governor Becky Skillman joined Net Literacy’s Honorary Board of Directors in July, 2009, showing her support for “student empowered community service” and the importance of reducing the digital divide. Increasing computer access throughout Indiana’s rural counties and at senior centers are two of the Lt. Governor’s digital inclusion priorities.
For additional information, contact [email protected].
Net Literacy Files Comments on Adoption to the FCC
Net Literacy (www.netliteracy.org) filed comments regarding adoption to the FCC on December 2nd and in response to GN Dockets Nos. 09-47, 09-51, and 09-137. The 40 page document responded to dozens of question in the FCC’s request for comments, but the three most significant arguments Net Literacy made were:
- K-12 students on free or assisted lunch programs and without a computer at home should be the National Broadband Plan?s highest priority.
- A Digital Literacy Corps of student volunteers should be an important component of the National Broadband Plan.
- Executive Order 12999 should be amended to provide K-12 schools a “right of first refusal” for all Federal Government computers deemed surplus.
The filing is available at http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/comment/view?z=yx57b&id=6015500723
Please contact Daniel Kent at [email protected] for additional information.