Affordable Programs, Initiatives Urged at FCC Workshop

Federal agencies should use different approaches targeting different demographics, Raquel Noriega, director of strategic partnerships at Connected Nation said, citing the Computers 4 Kids initiative which has distributed more than 5,000 computers to date. Mark Malaspina, chief program officer at Computers for Youth urged initiatives for family broadband engagement like involvement with high-poverty schools, family learning workshops (including broadband sign- up information and partnership discounts, free high-value educational software and subscriptions) and robust technical support. Broadband-enabled educational technology at home can boost student achievement by promoting “cognitive stimulation and family learning,” he said.

Panelists urged federal policy to focus on local initiatives to empower local leadership instead of using a one-size-fits-all model. Noriega proposed the “e-Community” model in which community leaders from key local sectors in every county team up to shape a locally owned technology growth strategy, she said. The model brings to community leaders shared intellectual property, lessons learned, and best practices for developing actionable technology growth plans, she said. It also allows e-Community leadership teams to track technology use across sectors and each sector and anchor institution to set goals for improved technology use, she said. A 2-3 year tactical business plan at the county- level is needed to improve resources for technology training and coordination across the community, she said. The plan should also include local technology awareness campaigns and broadband demand-creation activities, building or improving borough and city websites, interoperability improvement of city, state and federal communications assets and security for local government and private users, she said.

Barriers to adoption include cost of the hardware, provisioning or service, the lack of relevancy of Internet content and the lack of content targeting low-income families, said Howie Hodges, senior vice president of One Economy, a non-profit organization helping low-income populations. The agencies should address how technology can be implemented in public housing, he said, and should propose including broadband and other network assets in new public housing programs. The FCC could play a role in making that happen, he said. The agencies could also work with the Department of the Treasury on offering tax incentives for housing development for low-income families, he said.

Affordability is a key issue, which is linked to adoption, said Laurie Itkin, director of government affairs at Cricket, a subsidiary of Leap Wireless. But affordability shouldn’t mean a reduction in the quality of service or the content, Hodges said. Elements that will improve the long- term affordability of broadband include digital literacy programs to train target populations in digital technology usage, relevant content and online applications to promote well-being, cost reductions for broadband and rebalancing USF support and targeting Universal Service Administrative Company support for sustainable broadband hardware and service to lower-income communities, he said, citing a One Economy filing with the FCC.

Itkin urged the FCC to work with NTIA on analyzing broadband data. Cricket with sub-grantee One Economy has applied for Sustainable Broadband Adoption funds to expand the program to Washington, Baltimore, Houston, San Diego, and Memphis, Tenn., she said. Instead of receiving free service, participants will receive subsidized service that increases to full price over two years, she said. Digital literacy training will be provided by One Economy’s “Digital Connectors” program, she said. Digital Impact Group, formerly Wireless Philadelphia, is going after funds in round one of the BTOP program, said CEO Greg Goldman. It’s a unified application including DIG and other community-based organizations for sustainable adoption programs, he said.