I’m in the car (not driving!) and on my way to Fair Hills Resort for our annual family vacation. There’s no TV, but there is wireless in the lodge, so I’m hoping to catch up on some reading. I’m starting with The Power Up: The Campaign for Digital Inclusion by Microsoft.
I was pleased to see a quote from Catherine Settani (Minneapolis advocate against the digital divide) on the second page:
“We are looking for a set of strategies that address the barriers that underserved members of the community must overcome. Some people simply talk about providing the infrastructure and access to technology. But what we really need to develop is a strategy that leads to social inclusion using technology.”
The report talks about the need to gap the digital divide because people find jobs online and governments increasing provide and announce services online. They also list characteristics shared by municipalities that have been successful in closing the gap:
- Strong Public/Private Partnerships
- A Committed Multidisciplinary Team
- Affordable Access to Technology
- Targeted Training
- Long-term Sustainability
- Metrics for Accountability
- Digital Empowerment Awareness Campaigns
- Universal Adoption Mission
The report was a quick read. It was nice to see local communities mentioned – but I don’t feel like there were any real surprises here. You know what would be nice is a follow up “How to Close the Digital Divide Kit” with administration and marketing notes from these communities. It’s one this to hear that targeted training helps – it’s another to get a PowerPoint you can use in your community.