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Archive for the ‘Events’ Category
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 danielkent@netliteracy.org for additional information.
US Broadband Coalition Issues Adoption & Use Report to the FCC
In any national broadband strategy, adoption and use need to play a major role. We’ve seen numerous examples of broadband driving future applications that will enhance lives. Advances in education, health care and economic development are out there, and many Americans are going to need to increase their technological competencies in order to realize the benefits.
While the U.S. Broadband Coalition submitted a report on a national broadband strategy to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Sept. 24, it recently submitted another that offers more detailed policy suggestions.
The Broadband Adoption and Use Working Group, chaired by Charles Benton of the Benton Foundation; Link Hoewing of Verizon; Karen Archer Perry of the Knight Center of Digital Excellence, and Kenneth Peres of Communications Workers of America, collaborated with more than 30 authors representing over 25 different firms to create a new report that was delivered to the FCC Oct. 29 and will be showcased in a public forum at the FCC Hearing Room in Washington D.C. Nov. 13 at 1 p.m. EST.
“Broadband Adoption and Use: Bridging the Divide and Increasing the Intensity of Broadband Use Across All Sectors of the Economy,” is a robust document focusing on policy options that promote: inclusion, increased intensity of broadband use, interoperability, integration of broadband and technology into other programs, and expanded innovation. The report’s hundred plus policy ideas address each of these principles directly.
Inclusion
As more functions in our society move online, the cost of digital exclusion continues to escalate. Conversely, the value associated with any given Internet-enabled service increases as more people or devices access that service. This report includes specific recommendations to bridge the digital divide. Its universal design principles seek to bring access to people with disabilities. The benefits of broadband can potentially reach 40 percent of American adults who currently have inadequate or no access.
Intensity of Broadband Use
While broadband appears to be well integrated in some sectors of our nation’s economy, we’re actually in the beginning stages of broadband adoption as a whole. The potential to further leverage broadband technologies across society and the economy creates unparalleled opportunities to grow our economy and enrich lives.
The report covers a number of policy options designed to increase adoption and use in the areas of economic development, health care, public safety, education, energy and sustainability, and democracy and civic engagement.
Interoperability
While broadband developments to-date are founded on the natural interoperability of Internet Protocol (the method by which data is sent from one computer to another), more application-level interoperability is needed to accelerate development across sectors and constituencies such as in health care and public safety. The report points out where policy and standardization can drive additional deployment and create new, more effective use models.
Integration of Broadband into Everything
Broadband technology and Internet-based applications can no longer be managed and funded in “technology silos” of policy and investment. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is integral to social services, education, health care, safety, civic rights and engagement, and all other sectors of the economy. The report recommends ICT investment and policy be incorporated into other federal and state programs such as housing, social services, education, and health care as integral funded and mission-aligned program components.
Investment
Strategic investments such as those made through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act’s broadband stimulus funding, Universal Service Funds and USDA Rural Health programs are critical to filling gaps in the market in terms of access, adoption and applications.
Innovation
The hallmark of the Internet age has been innovation. While change is necessary to broaden and deepen the impact of broadband across the U.S., changes must also preserve and encourage continued innovation at all levels of the economy and market. A number of recent studies have shown the Internet is the new platform for innovation not only in the U.S. but globally. Consider the number of new applications and devices over the past few years.
Could any of us have accurately predicted this exact kind of innovation would take place? Can we accurately predict the future possibilities that exist? Probably not.
But as the Coalition suggests, we can encourage policies that will “focus not on protecting status quo but in continuing to create a fertile environment for U.S.-based innovation, expansion as well as adoption and use.”
Over 30 industry experts from 25 firms contributed to “Broadband Adoption and Use: Bridging the Divide and Increasing the Intensity of Broadband Use Across All Sectors of the Economy,” In addition to the report co-chairs, Alcatel-Lucent, Net Literacy, Telcordia, Utilities Telecom Council, PC Rebuilders and Recyclers, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, OneCommunity and many others contributed to this report.
Each report section includes a statement on the opportunity, barriers and possible policy options to be implemented at the federal, state or local levels of government. While the report reflects a few areas of contention, there is strong overall agreement that increasing the adoption and use of broadband technology and services is good for America and for Americans.
With the Internet celebrating only its 40th birthday and search functions just over 10 years old, this is still a field in the early stages of growth and value. There is much we can do to create greater inclusion in adoption and to drive for greater value across those sectors where broadband is already in use and this report includes a menu of serious options for consideration.
Future events
The “Broadband Adoption and Use: Bridging the Divide and Increasing the Intensity of Broadband Use Across All Sectors of the Economy” report will be publicly released Nov. 13 and will be showcased in live and webcast events at the FCC Headquarters on the same day at 1 p.m. EST. Please check the Knight Center ( http://www.knightcentercommunityconnection.org) for more details, go to www.BB4US.net or contact Karen Archer Perry at the Knight Center (kperry@knightcenter.org) or Don Kent at Net Literacy (donkent@netliteracy.org).
Credits – Knight Center for Digital Excellence
Net Literacy passes 4,000 computers repurposed in 2009 as of October 27th
Net Literacy (www.netliteracy.org) student volunteers and Net Literacy Alliance partners have been hard at work repurposing computers for schools and nonprofits. With a backlog of computer requests by schools still exceeding 2,000 computers, Net Literacy’s student volunteers have provided over 4,000 computers and donated them to schools and nonprofits. Most of the computers have been donated to schools, and the schools have used the computers to add computers in the classrooms, create computer labs, and provide computers to qualified families of students without a computer at home.
The Clowes Fund honors Net Literacy as Grantee of the Quarter
The Clowes Fund (www.clowesfund.org), a family foundation, seeks to enhance the common good by encouraging organizations and projects that help to build a just and equitable society, create opportunities for initiative, foster creativity and the growth of knowledge, and promote appreciation of the natural environment.
The Clowes Fund pursues these goals by awarding grants in three areas: the arts, education and social services. We also recognize the special value of efforts that create links among these areas. The Clowes Fund has a special interest in supporting projects that strengthen the communities in which Clowes family members and the foundation’s directors live and work.
During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Clowes Fund honored Net Literacy (www.netliteracy.org) as their Grantee of the Quarter (http://www.clowesfund.org/index.asp?p=48). During the last two years, the Clowes Fund has provided Net Literacy $30,000 which has increased computer access to over 10,000 individuals and directly impacted thousands of children by placing computers in nonprofits so that the computers could establish public computer labs, place computers in classrooms, build additional computer labs, and provide computers to the families of students on free or assisted lunches without a computer at their home so that they could be more effective at school. More about the Clowes Fund – Net Literacy relationship can be found at www.netliteracy.org/indy.
Indianapolis and Fort Wayne Mayors Join the Net Literacy Honorary Board
Mayor Greg Ballard and Mayor Tom Henry joined the Net Literacy Honorary Board of Directors, indicating the importance that the mayors of Indianapolis’ two largest cities place on digital inclusion and youth empowered organizations. Net Literacy’s Honorary board includes US Senators Lugar and Bayh, Lt. Governor Skillman, former Fort Wayne Mayor Graham Richard, CERIAS Director Gene Spafford, and former Superintendent of Public Instruction Suellen Reed.
Net Literacy Announces Fifth Core Program – Financial Connects
As banking, investments choices, scholarship opportunities, and fraud migrate to the Internet, Net Literacy’s (www.netliteracy.org) student board believed it important to develop a fifth core program focusing on financial literacy.
Thanks to the generous funding from the Lilly Endowment, Old National Bank, and Bright House Networks, students from six schools worked together at IUPUI to develop a novel website that is scheduled to be launched on September 22nd.
The website, located at www.financialconnects.org, will contain 200 “best of class” interactive games, videos, calculators, and applications based upon an exhaustive review of 5,000 financial literacy websites. Supplementing the “best of class” content are 20 original financial literacy videos created, produced, and edited by the student volunteers. Chairman of the House Education Committee Greg Porter and Lt. Governor Skillman also have videos on the site that were produced by the team of student volunteers that explain why the Indiana General Assembly enacted new legislation requiring students in 6-12 grade to receive financial literacy education and how they believe this initiative will impact Indiana students.
Stay tuned for more information on Financial Connects – the official launch of the website will be announced on this site (www.netliteracyalliance.org). All of Net Literacy’s content is available at no cost to all Net Literacy Alliance partners.
Three Net Literacy student board members will be representing Indiana at the America’s Promise Alliance’s (www.americaspromise.org) Grad Nation Action Forum in Washington, DC, on September 16th-18th. During the Grad Nation Action Forum the Net Literacy student board members will be involved in networking with other youth, Alliance partners, funding partners, and community representatives about the leadership work Net Literacy has been involved throughout the Midwest. In addition to serving as a resource to the Forum’s attendees on the “young leader” perspective around increasing the nation’s graduation rates, we will be providing the youth perspective at breakout sessions.
Net Literacy Students to Present at the Central Indiana “Summit for Student Success”
Net Literacy was asked to conduct a workshop to discuss its success and youth-empowered model at the Summit for Student Success on August 10th. The presentation will be conducted by five Net Literacy student board members. At the invitation of Net Literacy, Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Tony Bennett will discuss community engagement in our educational system. For additional information or student board members interested in receiving a complimentary ticket, contact donkent@netliteracy.org. The Summit is sponsored by America’s Promise Alliance and McCoy, and was planned by Net Literacy and 18 other organizations.
Busy Summer for 12 Net Literacy Schools Will Conclude on August 7th
Five Net Literacy summer programs conducted during the past 8 weeks will conclude on August 7th. Students at Northwest, Broad Ripple, Carmel, Brebeuf Jesuit, Howe Academy, John Marshall, Arsenal Tech, Manual, George Washington, Crispus Attucks, Haverford, DePauw, Purdue University, Indiana Univeristy, and several other schools repurposed more than 850 computers and designed and constructed a website that will be the foundation of Net Literacy’s fifth core program, Financial Connects. Computers were distributed to more than one dozen schools and nonprofits. The Financial Connects, a financial literacy website with more than 20 original videos contain 200 “best of class” financial videos, calculators, applications, articles, and interactive games, will be located at www.financialconnects.org when launched in the next month. Students also taught elementry school children Internet safety using Safe Connects (www.safeconnects.org) at three YMCA summer programs and planned and began to design a graphical user interface for a virtual campus. These programs were funded by Bright House Networks, Lilly Endowment, the Hoover Family Fund, Old National Bank, the Junior League, the Clowes Fund, and the Luminus Foundation. IUPUI provided the Net Literacy student volunteers over $80,000 in scholarships for their community service work.
Net Literacy receives 400 computers from Carmel Clay Schools
Carmel Clay Schools donated 600 monitors and 400 computers to Net Literacy. 200 monitors were donated to other schools. The computers and remaining monitors will be repurposed by Carmel High School Net Literacy student volunteers together with students from other schools. The computers will be donated to nonprofits throughout Indiana. This is Carmel Clay School’s sixth year participating in Net Literacy programs.