The role of US libraries as community hubs to drive digital adoption and literacy

The workshop will feature frontline experts from libraries, academia, and civil society organizations who will discuss efforts to support underserved rural and urban communities’ acquisition of digital skills. Experts will consider what constitutes digital inclusion today and the role of libraries and public-private partnerships. The workshop will also address the impact of COVID-19 on advancing digital inclusion, as well as the impact of various local, state, and federal interventions in the last few months.

The workshop will be convened via WebEx in light of travel restrictions and other concerns related to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The workshop will be available to the public via live feed from the FCC’s web page at www.fcc.gov/live.

Members of the public may submit comments to the ACDDE using the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System, ECFS, at www.fcc.gov/ecfs. Comments to the ACDDE should be filed in GN Docket No. 17-208.

10:00 am Introduction

Anna M. Gomez, Partner, Wiley Rein LLP Representing Hispanic National Bar Association Chair, Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment

Welcome Remarks

Rudy Brioché, Vice President and Counsel, Global Public Policy, Comcast Corporation Chair, Digital Empowerment and Inclusion Working Group

10:10 am — Panel 1: Local Libraries and State Library Association Perspectives

Moderators:

Harin J. Contractor, Consultant, Workforce Policy, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

Marijke Visser, Senior Policy Advocate, Policy and Advocacy Office, American Library Association

Panelists:

Marian Christmon, Manager, Digital Inclusion Initiatives, Nashville Public Library

Misty Hawkins, Director, Arkansas River Valley Regional Library System Kate Laughlin, Executive Director, Association of Rural & Small Libraries

Richard Reyes-Gavilan, Executive Director, Washington DC Public Library

Lisa Shaw, Rural & Small Libraries Specialist/Workforce Development Specialist, Maine State Library

Nicole Umayam, Digital Inclusion Library Consultant, Arizona State Library

11:20 am —Q & A Session (Members of the Public, ACDDE Members)

11:50 am —Panel 2: Libraries and Community Partnerships

Moderators: Laura Berrocal, Senior Director, Policy and External Affairs, Charter Communications

Felicia West, Policy Advisor for the District of Columbia Public Service Commission

Panelists:

Broderick Johnson, Senior of Counsel, Covington and Burling, LLP, Chair, My Brother’s Keeper Alliance

Cyndee Landrum, Deputy Director for Library Services, Institute of Museum and Library Services

Jillian Luchner, Policy Manager, Afterschool Alliance

Emily Ong, Senior Manager, Community Partnerships and Outreach, Girls Who Code

Jose Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO Hispanic Heritage Foundation

Katherine Trujillo, Director of Education/Deputy Director, Libraries Without Borders

1:00 pm —Q & A Session (Members of the Public, ACDDE Members)

1:15 pm —Workshop Summary and Closing Remarks

Sindy Benavides, CEO, League of United Latin American Citizens

Roy E. Litland, Associate General Counsel, Federal Regulatory Affairs, Verizon

Shellie Blakeney, Director, Federal Regulatory Affairs, T-Mobile USA

Jamila Bess Johnson, Designated Federal Officer, Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment