International Briefing on the U.S. National Broadband Plan

On March 26th the FCC gave the International Briefing on the U.S. National Broadband Plan it include a section on Adoption:

Launch a three-part National Digital Literacy ProgramAdoption

1.Create a Digital Literacy Corps-

• Goal: Put Corps members into communities to help users get online and complete basic skills education
• Also serves as workforce development/job skills platform
• New appropriation to NTIA, to collaborate with CNCS (AmeriCorps,SeniorCorps) to design, fund and administer Corp

2. Increase capacity and training in libraries and community centers to provide digital literacy support

• Goal: Increase infrastructure and capability of local partner sites to become the “where”–the locations for skills training and e-govapps support
• New appropriation to IMLS, and guidelines created with OMB/IMLS

3.Create an Online Skills Portal

• Goal: Give every American access to free, age-and language-appropriate content to impart digital skills
• Created by collaboration among FTC, FCC, Department of Education, NTIA and others (along lines of OnGuardOnline.gov), but in partnership with private and non-profit sector who develop such content
• New appropriation to support initial content development, outreach and evaluation

Under Universal recommendations:

Ensuring that schools and libraries have access to affordable broadband

• Increase flexibility and bandwidth
• Remove barriers to shared use with other community institutions
• Improve program efficiency
• Foster innovation with pilot programs, such as funding for wireless connectivity for devices off campus

The Plan cites the CyberNavigators from the the Chicago Public Library.  The CyberNavigators offer small group classes and one-on-one sessions at 42 library locations throughout the city. One-on-one sessions are by appointment only and may last up to one hour.

You can read more about the Digital Literacy Corps

• Key Takeaways for Libraries from FCC National Broadband Plan
• Why Foundations of All Kinds Should Promote Internet Access
• Plan Would Help Subsidize Access To Broadband By Luis Ubiñas
• Read the comments from patrons on the previous post about the Digital Literacy Corps