The cable industry proposed Tuesday that the government consider devoting some of the funds in its second round of federal broadband grants for a public-private partnership intended to increase broadband adoption among middle-school-aged kids.
The National Cable and Telecommunications Association’s (NCTA) Adoption Plus (A+) is a proposed two-year, public-private partnership that would promote broadband adoption among the 3.5 million children currently eligible for the National School Lunch Program.
Adoption Plus would take a three-pronged approach: digital media literacy training; discounted, Internet-enabled computers; and discounted home broadband service to unserved households.
As NCTA envisions it, the stimulus funds would be awarded to school districts, which would be responsible for the digital literacy aspect – teaching kids how to use computers and about Internet safety, for example. Next, hardware partners would step in and provide discounted, subsidized, or free computers to school children. Finally, NCTA’s ISPs, well as non-cable Internet providers, would provide entry-level broadband Internet service and modems at a 50 percent discount.
Cable providers that have signed on to this program include: Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox, Charter, Cablevision, Bright House, Mediacom, Suddenlink, Insight Communications, Bresnan Communications, Midcontinent Communications, GCI, US Cable, Bend Broadband, Eagle Communications, and Sjoberg’s Cable.
Post a Comment