2016

Dr. Colin Rhinesmith writes Digital Inclusion and Meaningful Broadband Adoption Initiatives, to inform the FCC's efforts to modernize its Lifeline program for the broadband age. The report presents findings from a national study of digital inclusion organizations that help low-income individuals and families adopt high-speed internet service (Legacy Fund). Specifically, the report discusses the four digital inclusion activities that are necessary for helping low-income people adopt broadband in ways that are most appropriate for their personal needs and contexts: providing low-cost broadband; connecting digital literacy training with relevant content and services; making low-cost computers available; and operating public access computing centers.

Benton publishes Connecting Anchor Institutions: A Broadband Action Plan for the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition. Community anchor institutions – schools, libraries, healthcare providers, community colleges, public media, public housing, and other community organizations – are the key institutions that enable universal access to broadband. They make essential broadband Internet services available to those who are most in need and ensure that the benefits of the Internet are widely available to everyone—promoting digital equity and opportunity for all.

National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) gives the first annual Charles Benton Digital Equity Champion award to David Keyes, Digital Equity Manager for the City of Seattle.

Next Century Cities gives Charles Benton Next Generation Engagement Awards to Louisville, KY, Raleigh, NC, and Austin, TX. NCC follows up in 2017 with Five Lessons for Tech-Powered Civic Engagement and an event in Washington, D.C., with awardees.

The first annual staff summer outing. You’ll never guess where we are!