Digital Inclusion News
Minneapolis Digital Inclusion Survey Results
Results of the 2012 Minneapolis Community Technology Survey are available online. Residents, businesses, and community service providers are invited to participate in one of four community meetings in June to discuss next steps to overcome the digital divide.
May 15, 2012
Posted by Katherine D
Digital Inclusion and government services
In 2009, the Minnesota Legislature mandated that the Minnesota Department of Human Services create an online application. Now, in 2012, the online application ApplyMN allows residents to apply for state and county services such as SNAP, MHCP, CCAP, cash assistance, and emergency help in one spot. The online application does not replace paper applications, however, as this and other examples of access to government services become more prevalent, the need to close the gaps becomes more critical.
The TLC is here to help you in your work, in part by maintaining a repository of curriculum and presentations that community organizations have created to help people acquire necessary digital literacy skills. Have you created resources that provide instructions to create online accounts and complete online applications? Please consider getting involved with the TLC, and sharing your resources by contacting the Website and Resources Committee.
May 10, 2012
Posted by Katherine D
Net Neutrality in the news
Recently, the Center for Media Justice reported to its partners that 5.9% of shareholders at AT&T voted in favor of a proposal that would require AT&T to publicly commit to operating under the principles of net neutrality on its wireless networks. This vote means that this topic will remain on the company's agenda with shareholders for another year. For more information on this and similar proposals at Verizon and Sprint, see the article titled Net Neutrality Provision Gets 5.9 Percent of AT&T Shareholder Votes from PC World.
Net Neutrality (also referred to as "Open Internet") refers to the principle that all traffic that flows across a network is treated in the same way, meaning that network services and management practices do not give priority to any content package over another. Learn more about net neutrality at the FCC Open Internet Guide, and keep up with the latest news with topic guides from The New York Times and Huffington Post.
May 7, 2012
Posted by Katherine D
Pew Releases Report on Digital Access Disparities
Digital Differences, a new report from The Pew Internet & American Life Project, is an excellent overview of the current state of the digital divide. The research focuses on how internet access has changed over time, the primary reasons that non-internet users do not use the internet, and how mobile and wireless adoption has changed over time. The research shows that age, education level, and household income are the strongest predictors of access and adoption today.
April 16, 2012
Posted by Katherine D
Join the outreach efforts of E-democracy.org
E-democracy.org is launching a targeted outreach campaign in St. Paul and Minneapolis to engage diverse communities, develop and share digital inclusion lessons and training with community leaders, and foster the "next generation" of online civic engagement models. As part of the project the organization is in the process of creating both an Outreach Crew and an Outreach Advisory Group, and is seeking applicants who are committed to developing online neighborhood forums that are as inclusive as possible. For more information about this exciting opportunity, please contact Corrine Bruning.
E-democracy.org is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to "harness the power of online tools to support participation in public life, strengthen communities, and build democracy."
April 12, 2012
Posted by Katherine D
Opportunity to connect with organizations working to bridge the digital divide
The upcoming Organizer Roundtable event at the Alliance for Metropolitan Stability is focused on bridging the digital divide. Presenters from E-democracy.org, The Institute for Local Self-Reliance, and Hennepin County Library will share the strategies they are using to provide access to the community.
The event will be held at the Merriam Park Library in St. Paul on Wednesday, April 18 from 12:30-2:00. The event is free, but registration is required. For more information and to register for the event, visit Organizer Roundtable: Bridging the Digital Divde.
April 12, 2012
Posted by Katherine D
Comcast Internet Essentials program includes reduced lunch
The Comcast Internet Essentials Program has expanded the eligibility requirements to include families with a child who receives reduced price school lunches. The program offers a rate of $9.95/month for Internet access, an option to purchase a low-cost computer, and training for customers. For more information about eligibility requirements and how to apply, visit the program's How It Works page.
April 9, 2012
Posted by Katherine D
Resources to build digital communities
The Institute of Museum and Library Services has released two new publications to help communities bridge the digital divide.
Building Digital Communities: A Framework for Action identifies three categories of principles that define digital inclusion (access, adoption, and application) and outlines strategies that individuals, organizations, businesses, and policy makers can implement to achieve the goals of each principle.
Building Digital Communities: Getting Started is a companion primer that describes common steps that communities take to develop an understanding, assess needs and develop strategies.
Both publications emphasize the importance of working across sectors to increase opportunity to connect with citizens and sustainability for digitally inclusive communities. If you play a role in government, community organizations, business, or are interested in being involved in the discussion about what this Framework means for Minnesota communities, please consider getting involved with the Technology Literacy Collaborative.
April 5, 2012
Posted by Katherine D
Do you want a Teen Tech Center at your Organization?!
**Funding Opportunity**
Best Buy Teen Tech Centers Opportunity http://www.computerclubhouse.org/content/best-buy-rfp
Three cities only: Chicago, Miami, and Minneapolis
Request for Proposals Deadline: 4/20/2012
Here are the excerpted eligibility criteria:
To ensure the success of the Best Buy Teen Tech Center program, Best Buy is searching for community-based afterschool programs with a respected track record for achieving results through community-based initiatives, which have demonstrated financial stability, can embrace new technologies and can sustain the Technology Centers over time (minimum three years).
Best Buy invites community afterschool programs that have a fundamental commitment to youth, ages 13-18, to apply for funding to create one technology center in 3 pilot cities. Minimum eligibility criteria include:
WCCO Covers the Digital Divide
Digital Divide is in the news! WCCO radio wants people to know what the digital divide is and what is being done to overcome it. On Friday, March 2nd, the John Hines show hosted a segment on “The Digital Divide with Internet”. (Download the 10:10 AM podcast via iTunes to listen.) Many people take home internet access for granted, while 100 million Americans are without access. The host was surprised by the gap: Imagine the impact on students when assignments are increasingly online. Imagine the impact on jobseekers when applications are only online. Otto Doll, City of Minneapolis CIO, commented on the digital divide and the recent city resident technology survey.
The Buzz from WCCO Radio: In line with the radio story, CBS Minnesota posted a short news item, “Free Internet Access in Minneapolis” and linked directly to “Find a Community Technology Center” hosted by the Technology Literacy Collaborative.
Reported by Mary Ann Van Cura & Elise Ebhardt
