USA: California has launched a public awareness in a bid to close the digital divide for broadband Internet to get Californians connected

[PRNewswire] A new public awareness program launched today by the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) hopes to close the Digital Divide by breaking down barriers to high-speed Internet access and encouraging all Californians to Get Connected!

The statewide effort unveiled at the Boyle Heights Technology Youth Center in East Los Angeles takes aim at disadvantaged and rural communities statewide, as well as low-income Latinos, African-Americans, Asian-Americans and non-Hispanic whites who lag behind in accessing the social, information and economic benefits of high-speed, broadband connectivity.

"In Los Angeles alone, a city defined by media, entertainment and innovation, 52 percent of households do not have broadband connections because of disabilities, language barriers, poverty and, in some cases, a simple fear or misunderstanding of technology," said Sunne Wright McPeak, President and CEO of California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF). "Get Connected! provides guidance and assistance for all Californians in accessing vital high-speed services at a time when they are needed most, and aims to close a Digital Divide that puts residents - and the state - at a competitive disadvantage."

Focusing industry, government and community efforts to boost broadband adoption, the Get Connected! initiative feature hands-on, interactive Community Connect Fairs statewide, a multi-lingual Web portal for new broadband users at www.getconnectedtoday.com and www.conectatehoymismo.com and multi-lingual TV and radio commercials in English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese and Vietnamese. The initial phase of the program in Southern California is backed by a growing coalition of cities, businesses and community and business organizations.

"If you have access to high-speed connectivity, you understand its value: in applying for a job, in accessing friends on a social network, in obtaining medical information, paying a bill or accessing government services. We almost take it for granted," said Wright McPeak. "Now imagine not having that access. Millions of people in California do not, which impedes progress and inhibits economic recovery. We all have a stake in breaking down the barriers limiting wider adoption of high-speed broadband, and the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) is the organization best positioned to help us achieve this goal."

The magnitude of California's Digital Divide is unacceptable for global competitiveness. It is therefore the goal of the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) to close the Digital Divide within a decade (by 2017 - ten years after beginning operations) with a call to action to Get Connected!

California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF)'s five categories of strategic action for their comprehensive plan to close the Digital Divide include civic leader engagement, venture philosophy grantmaking, public policy promulgation, public awareness and education and strategic partnerships.

Get Connected! incorporates a variety of initiatives to break down the key barriers to adoption: access, application, affordability, accessibility and assistance.

Community Connect Fairs are one of the key pillars of the Get Connected! program, providing hands-on, in-person interactive events that demonstrate the benefits of using broadband and address the key factors that prevent people from using it. In addition to ongoing radio and print computer give-away contests that will run during the weeks prior to each community event, computers will also be given away on-site, the day of the event. To further support the communities where fairs are conducted, Get Connected! is inviting all local vendors of all industries to participate in the fairs. Retail and government vendors will be exposed to thousands of new customers and constituents, introduce new users to their Websites, demonstrate hands-on experience with online shopping for products and services, and get involved with the community.

Community Connect Fair locations include Boyle Heights/East Los Angeles, Southeast Los Angeles, San Gabriel Valley, South Los Angeles, Long Beach, Pico Union/Central Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. The first Community Connect Fair will be Saturday, June 13 at the Boyle Heights Technology Youth Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the fairs will continue throughout the year.

Multi-lingual radio and TV spots were created to focus on converting current non-users to users of broadband Internet service by showing the benefits of getting online and of having high-speed broadband access. The advertising spots highlight and prioritize the different benefits high-speed access can provide to all target groups.

New Public Education Program Encourages Californians to Get Connected! to Close Digital Divide and Tap Benefits of High-Speed Internet Access
see also Get Connected! .