Access

Source: Techwire.net

According to a survey by the Imperial County Office of Education, the digital divide in Imperial County is nearly 40%, which is one of the highest in the nation. Fortunately, funders such as CETF and Alliance Healthcare are leading the effort to pay closer attention to these rural and often overlooked parts of the state with direct funding and by learning more about the community they're trying to serve, directly from the members of the community itself.

Source: sfgate.com Contra Costa Blog

The laptop didn't just fall from the sky. The laptop giveaway was organized by Contra Costa Supervisor John Gioia, California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) president Sunne Wright McPeak and iFoster founder Reid Cox.

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Source: City on a Hill Press

A 65-foot flatbed truck filled with computers offering free Internet access to migrant laborers is one project among many aimed at promoting universal broadband access along the Central Coast. The group behind it is the Central Coast Broadband Consortium (CCBC), which aims to bridge the "digital divide" in Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties.

Source: Richmond Confidential

Richmond High graduate Bernard Naquin, 19, won't have to look too far to find a computer these days. The Contra Costa County teenager and Diablo Valley College student was awarded a brand new Dell laptop Monday morning at the Nevin Center. "I was surprised when they told me I was going to receive the computer," Naquin said. "Out of everyone in the county, they chose me. I didn't expect it."

Source: www.mercurynews.com

iFoster, a California-based advocacy nonprofit for foster children, has selected Contra Costa County to share in a three-year, $300,000 grant to expand access to computers and affordable Internet service to vulnerable youth.

In partnership with the California Emerging Technology Fund, led by former Contra Costa Supervisor Sunne Wright McPeak, the organizations this week launched the initiative and the county declared May Foster Care Month.

Source: www.sierrasun.com

"Broadband is a transforming technology that is essential to help foster youth build better lives," said Sunne Wright McPeak, president and CEO of CETF. "With this grant, children in foster care, emancipated youth and their families will benefit from access to affordable Internet service and computers. We support iFoster in finding innovative ways to help this community connect online with each other, and to public- and private-sector services."

SOURCE:  Techwire.net

San Joaquin Valley Regional Consortium (SJVRC)—a public-private entity made up of telecommunications providers, government, private businesses, nonprofit and health agencies—is honing its plans to accelerate broadband deployment, accessibility and adoption within Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tulare Counties.

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The program uses a mobile computer lab and a center in Pico-Union to offer basic lessons in an effort to increase access for Latinos, 30% of whom don't use the Internet.

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