A coalition of civil rights organizations has issued recommendations for tapping the potential of broadband access and Web-based communication tools to improve educational opportunities, as well as other critical areas, for underrepresented and disadvantaged groups.
The recommendations came out of a summit held in February that brought together nearly three dozen experts and advocates on civil rights, education, and public health issues. The group, which issued this report, is hoping that federal economic stimulus money can be used to ensure that technology is deployed to high-need communities, through broadband access to low-income families, tech training, and software applications that address employment and social service needs.
“To date, our technological resources have been drastically underutilized, particularly by minority communities,” Marc Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League, said in a statement. “The Report and the forthcoming Broadband Opportunity Coalition will shed new light on the transformative power of broadband and digital innovation, and on the compelling need to increase the adoption and use of these technological platforms to create greater wealth and new job opportunities for minority communities and for the nation at large.”
The group hopes to launch a Broadband Opportunity Coalition this summer to continue to push for equitable access to online resources.
