Milwaukee Digital Inclusion Program Draft: January 26, 2007, Milwaukee Department of Administration

Mayor Tom Barrett’s Vision for Digital Inclusion In creating the Milwaukee Wireless Initiative, Mayor Tom Barrett directed that a program be developed and structured to provide opportunities for ALL Milwaukee citizens to participate in the digital society. The goal is universal and affordable access to the benefits of technology for all segments of our community.

What is Digital Inclusion? Every Milwaukee resident deserves access to the social, civic, educational and economic opportunities the Internet provides.

Digital Inclusion Asks: What social and political barriers to technology access and literacy exist? What social and political barriers to technology access and literacy exist? How does technology affect human rights, civic participation, and social inclusion? How does technology affect human rights, civic participation, and social inclusion? How does technology impact economic development? How does technology impact economic development?

A Nation Online? 68% of Americans use the Internet 68% of Americans use the Internet 79% of Whites 79% of Whites 57% of African-Americans 57% of African-Americans 38% of Americans with disabilities 38% of Americans with disabilities 37% of Hispanics 37% of Hispanics 29% of non-high school graduates 29% of non-high school graduates 26% age 60 and older 26% age 60 and older “Digital Divisions”, Report of the Pew Internet & American Life Project, October 2005

Persistent Barriers Include: Limited technology literacy skills Limited technology literacy skills Anxiety and fear of technology tools Anxiety and fear of technology tools Limited education and literacy levels Limited education and literacy levels Language and accessibility barriers Language and accessibility barriers Irrelevant content Irrelevant content Availability of affordable Internet access Availability of affordable Internet access Cost of entry (hardware and software) Cost of entry (hardware and software)

Technology Literacy Is… The ability to responsibly, creatively, and effectively use appropriate technology to: The ability to responsibly, creatively, and effectively use appropriate technology to: Communicate Communicate Access, collect, manage, evaluate information Access, collect, manage, evaluate information Solve problems and create solutions Solve problems and create solutions Build and share knowledge Build and share knowledge Improve and enhance learning in all subject areas and experiences Improve and enhance learning in all subject areas and experiences

Is Internet Access Critical? Job listings and applications Job listings and applications E-Government services E-Government services Register and choose schools Register and choose schools Communicate with teachers, elected officials and others Communicate with teachers, elected officials and others Online learning Online learning Financial services Financial services Health care information Health care information Social inclusion and civic engagement Social inclusion and civic engagement

Milwaukee “Digitial Divide” Indicators Estimated that less than 20% of households in central city have home computers Estimated that less than 20% of households in central city have home computers Overall unemployment rate of 12.7%, with 3-5% higher rate for African-Americans Overall unemployment rate of 12.7%, with 3-5% higher rate for African-Americans High school graduation rates around 60% High school graduation rates around 60% 25-30% of population at or under the poverty rate 25-30% of population at or under the poverty rate 84% of public school students eligible for free lunch at school 84% of public school students eligible for free lunch at school 2 nd in nation in teen pregnancy rates 2 nd in nation in teen pregnancy rates

Digital Inclusion Requires: Computers (hardware & software) Computers (hardware & software) Access (to the Internet) Access (to the Internet) Content (relevant to target audience) Content (relevant to target audience) Training (initial) Training (initial) Support (ongoing) Support (ongoing)

Computers (hardware & software) Work with vendors to secure low-cost alternatives for the Milwaukee Initiative Work with vendors to secure low-cost alternatives for the Milwaukee Initiative Work with local companies to get good used computers donated Work with local companies to get good used computers donated Work with local refurbishers/recyclers to renovate used computers Work with local refurbishers/recyclers to renovate used computers Develop distribution methods Develop distribution methods

Access (to the Internet) Internet Service Providers charge for access accounts Internet Service Providers charge for access accounts But… “walled garden” provides free access to 60 web sites in the wireless network But… “walled garden” provides free access to 60 web sites in the wireless network Some service providers may offer free advertising-based Internet accounts Some service providers may offer free advertising-based Internet accounts Competition will help to keep prices low Competition will help to keep prices low

Content (relevant to target audience) “Walled garden” provides relevant content “Walled garden” provides relevant content Mayor appoints board to designate sites Mayor appoints board to designate sites Sites should focus on resources for economic, educational, civic success and engagement Sites should focus on resources for economic, educational, civic success and engagement Other options being explored (Beehive) Other options being explored (Beehive)

Training (initial) Target audience must be taught how to effectively use the technology Target audience must be taught how to effectively use the technology Engage local training resources Engage local training resources Students may be an excellent resource Students may be an excellent resource Community technology centers Community technology centers Libraries (City libraries provide free computer access and training) Libraries (City libraries provide free computer access and training)

Support (ongoing) Help residents become comfortable with using technology by providing adequate support to work through technical glitches and problems Help residents become comfortable with using technology by providing adequate support to work through technical glitches and problems Engage local resources, perhaps from same sources as training Engage local resources, perhaps from same sources as training

Community Input Community meetings/ listening sessions Community meetings/ listening sessions Surveys Surveys Understand existing technology needs Understand existing technology needs Examine community-based strategies that meet these needs Examine community-based strategies that meet these needs Work through the Mayor’s Digital Inclusion Action Team to review and prioritize community needs and approaches Work through the Mayor’s Digital Inclusion Action Team to review and prioritize community needs and approaches

Mayor’s Digital Inclusion Action Team Members Education Education Libraries Libraries Non-Profits Non-Profits Corporate Corporate Government Government Community Community Local employers and businesses Local employers and businesses

Mayor’s Digital Inclusion Action Team Mission The Milwaukee Digital Inclusion Program will extend the benefits of technology – hardware, software, wireless access, relevant content, training and support – to underserved segments and areas of the community. The goal is universal and affordable access to the benefits of technology. Through the provision of an integrated group of services, citizens will learn to use technology to expand their opportunities and improve their lives. This will in turn improve the local economy, help transform neighborhoods and positively impact civic engagement and public safety. The Milwaukee Digital Inclusion Program will extend the benefits of technology – hardware, software, wireless access, relevant content, training and support – to underserved segments and areas of the community. The goal is universal and affordable access to the benefits of technology. Through the provision of an integrated group of services, citizens will learn to use technology to expand their opportunities and improve their lives. This will in turn improve the local economy, help transform neighborhoods and positively impact civic engagement and public safety.

Milwaukee Digital Inclusion Pilot Project AT&T “Access All” grant project AT&T “Access All” grant project Provides two years free DSL access for selected households Provides two years free DSL access for selected households Provided through One Economy Provided through One Economy Need to provide computers and training and support Need to provide computers and training and support Content would be provided through the Beehive from One Economy Content would be provided through the Beehive from One Economy

“Equal access to technology is the civil rights issue of the 21 st century.”