PROGRAM APPLICATION
BEST PRACTICES TO BE INCORPORATED
STRATEGIC APPROACH TO FOSTER COLLABORATION
Emerging Markets
- Community-based organizations are engaged in convening neighborhood leaders and residents to determine interest in computers and broadband technology.
- Civic leadership organizations and Industry representatives are involved in the process.
- Interests of residents regarding applications and potential subscription are documented.
- Neighborhood representatives in a region are part of a “learning community” to compare and analyze results and determine nature of emerging markets.
- Results are compiled in a report and presented to broadband providers and IT companies.
- New community-business partnerships are fostered.
- Explore with coalitions or consortia of community-based organizations options for identifying and fostering emerging markets in urban disadvantaged neighborhoods.
- Design an exploration pilot to consult neighborhood leaders, key stakeholders, and industry.
- Prepare a report on the pilot and develop an action plan for statewide implementation on a region-by-region approach.
- Determine how to develop a business revenue model that can make program self-sustaining.
- Implement the action plan for statewide roll-out.
- Monitor and evaluate results on consumer demand and user adoption in urban disadvantaged neighborhoods to quantify the potential of “emerging markets.”
- Connect community-based organizations to industry partners.
Housing
- Housing supported by public resources is built with broadband infrastructure.
- Computers are available to residents (either in a computer lab and/or through a program to provide computers in the home).
- Residents are provided with free or low-cost broadband service.
- Residents are trained to provide technical support for other residents (adding job skills development to program).
- Residents are engaged in an e-community, such as the Beehive, to provide information to assist with self-sufficiency.
- Prepare an overview concept document which sets forth the rationale, vision, strategy, and magnitude of challenge.
- Develop a model policy for State Agencies to encourage and/or require broadband deployment in construction or renovation of affordable housing supported by State funds, including meeting with and engaging State Agencies in the process to reach consensus (such as Treasurer, TCAC, BTH, HCD, CalHFA, I-Bank).
- Develop a model policy and ordinance for local governments, including meeting with and engaging statewide organizations in the process to reach consensus (CSAC, LCC, LGC, RDA,APA, CalLAFCO, CalCOG).
- Engage homebuilders (non-profit and for-profit) in development of the policies.
- Develop briefing materials and conduct workshops for builders and local government officials to facilitate policy implementation.
- Establish monitoring processes and evaluation methods to track progress.
- Publish regular reports on results.
Education
- See education best practices in Urban and Disadvantaged Neighborhoods.
- Impact is leveraged and credibility of effort is enhanced by working through coalitions or consortia of educational organizations and programs.
- Meet with statewide organizations and foundations to determine the opportunities for statewide collaboration to integrate broadband into education improvement initiatives.
- Develop a collaborative joint-venture if appropriate.
Computer Literacy
- A standardized computer and Internet navigation literacy curriculum program (with discrete modules related to specific skills) is developed in consultation with employers.
- The standardized program is recognized and/or adopted by education authorities.
- The standardized program is promoted to educators, parents and students for incorporation into curriculum.
- Employers require certification in the standardized program for relevant job positions
- Confer with Community College System (CC) and computer and Internet literacy programs (such as the International Computer Drivers License-ICDL) to determine the status of the previous collaboration and other related efforts.
- Work with CC and State education officials to reaffirm support for a standardized curriculum in general and the ICDL in particular.
- Convene statewide and regional business organizations to introduce ICDL. Consider a launch with the San Joaquin Valley Partnership based on their Strategic Action Proposal.
- Engage industry partners to promote and support a standardized computer and Internet navigation program.
- Develop and integrate into the program curriculum an evaluation component that incorporates longitudinal tracking of participants’ academic performance in school.
Foster Care
- Foster homes (parent and children) are connected to the Internet and to one another and other resources through broadband technology.
- County and city computers are recycled with an established refurbishing and workforce training program.
- Refurbished computers are provided to foster parents both to connect parents in a support community and to provide a computer in the home for the foster child.
- Foster families are provided affordable broadband service.
- Explore with Health and Human Services Agency, CSAC and LCC the feasibility of developing a statewide program.
- Develop a program template and training materials, including an inventory of resources.
- Recruit business partners to assist with computers and training.
- Organize and convene training program for interested jurisdictions.
Municipal WiFi
- Experts are convened and consulted to help define best practices for municipal WiFi RFPs and contracts, with a special focus on Digital Inclusion.
- A substantive sample of WiFi RFPs and contracts in California and across the nation are analyzed and compared.
- A summary of best practices for RFPs and contracts is compiled with input from local government officials and industry representatives.
- The summary report is used to brief local officials about best practices.
- Identify 3-5 respected experts to provide input and counsel.
- Obtain information from Benton Foundation and other resources about their assessment, analyses and summaries regarding best practices.
- Explore with coalitions or consortia of community-based organizations and industry associations the feasibility of joint venturing on the project and developing a work plan.
- Gather and analyze RFPs and contracts from key jurisdictions.
- Engage CSAC, LCC and local government officials to obtain input and feedback in completing the analysis and preparing the report.
- Prepare a report on best practices for RFPs and contracts.
Civic Engagement
(and eGovernment)
- Broadband technology results in people being more informed and engaged in civic affairs, including voting.
- Broadband technology significantly improves efficiency of government services and customer (public) satisfaction with government in general.
- Effectiveness and impact of government initiatives is increased because of promulgation of public-private partnerships and engagement of the public and volunteers.
- Convene conversations with interested higher education institutions and statewide civic organizations to determine status of existing initiatives or programs.
- Explore opportunities for collaboration.
- Develop and implement an action plan for a joint venture initiative if appropriate.
- Launch the initiative with a major civic and volunteer engagement and mobilization event (such as Net Day).
Volunteerism
- Civic and industry leaders collaborate to increase access to broadband through a signature event that captures public attention and mobilizes resources.
- Engagement of volunteers on a signature event illuminates possibilities of mobilizing volunteers to tackle other challenges.
- Volunteer and service organizations mobilize volunteers using broadband technology.
- Organize and convene a planning committee to brainstorm about and plan a next generation “Net Day” event.
- In the planning phase, give special attention to determining how traditional service clubs can be energized and become more effective through broadband technology.
- Sponsor and co-manage the signature event.
- Develop and implement a volunteer engagement initiative.