Gates Foundation gift to Connected Nation

On Thursday, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced at $6.9 million grant to Connected Nation and the American Library Association's Office for Information Technology Policy (the bulk of it to Connected Nation) to promote better broadband access in public libraries in Arkansas, California, Kansas, Massachusetts, New York, Texas, and Virginia. Connected Nation will receive $6,107,882 to help each pilot state organize and host a broadband summit to gather and activate public library leaders, state and local officials, and other influencers who can support broadband Internet in libraries throughout each state. OITP will receive $851,889 to provide research and expertise that will help state library agencies develop and begin to implement strategies to ensure library broadband connections are sustainable. OITP also will develop and disseminate case studies demonstrating how public libraries can successfully sustain broadband for patrons. The goal is to bring broadband Internet of at least 1.5 Mbps to every public library in each of those states. "As the economic crisis in the U.S. deepens, visits to public libraries are up across the country," a release from the Gates Foundation explained. "Many libraries in states across the country are reporting that online services are in high demand, especially for job seekers, students, and people who do not have Internet access elsewhere."