Digital Inclusion Summit

Sponsored by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.  Blandin Foundation is providing sponsorship of an interactive webcast of the event for participants in outstate Minnesota. 

Everyone is welcome – at the Theatre and on-line!

Join the Federal Communications Commission and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation for an overview of the recommendations in the FCC’s National Broadband Plan meant to ensure that all Americans are included in the broadband era.

As the FCC prepares to deliver the Plan to Congress on March 17, 2010, hear perspectives from Chairman Genachowski, members of Congress, Knight Foundation President & CEO Alberto Ibargüen and people from across the country that have benefited from broadband. Help create solutions that drive broadband adoption for all Americans.

Live at the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington DC

Videocast at the FCC Commission Room, 445 12th SW, Washington DC

Webcast at Maplewood Performing Arts Theatre, 2100 White Bear Avenue, Maplewood, MN 

Please register for the event at: digisummitstpaul.org 

The digital age is creating an information and communications renaissance. But, due to limited access to affordable broadband and a widening gap in adequate digital literacy training and adoption, it is not serving all Americans and their local communities equally. The economic downturn of 2008 added urgency to all this concern. The needs are great. The time has come for new and aggressive action to dramatically improve the individual and community opportunities available in Minnesota and across America.  How we react, individually and collectively, to this shortfall will affect the quality of our lives and the very nature of our communities.  It is time to re-examine our roles as citizens in the digital age. We have a unique opportunity to leverage innovation and effective collaboration to expand broadband availability and adoption now.  Creating informed communities is a task for everyone.

America's Digital Inclusion Summit 

Working Together To Expand Opportunity
 Through Universal Broadband Access 

Tuesday, March 9th at the Maplewood Performing Arts Theatre

Map  

8:00 AM to 11:30 AM CST

FCC Webcast of National Broadband Plan Recommendations 

Also on-line at: http://reboot.fcc.gov/live/

Questions can be submitted to the Newseum via Twitter   #BBPlan 

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM CST

Audience and Panel Community Conversation 

Rick King, Chair, Governor’s Ultra High Speed Broadband Task Force

Catherine Settanni, Founder, DigitalAccess.org

Sam Levy, Vice President and CIO, University of St. Thomas

Susan Nemitz, Director, Ramsey County Library

Mike Reszler, Director, Digital Media, Minnesota Public Radio|American Public Media

Craig Taylor, Director of the Office for Business and Community Economic Development, University of Minnesota 

Also on-line at: http://shows.implex.tv/Qwikcast/router.aspx?WebcastID=3405 

Questions can be submitted to the Maplewood Performing Arts Theatre using the Webcast tools

Companion Materials: 

The Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy

The Wired Interview: FCC Chair Julius Genachowski

New comprehensive study on broadband adoption in low income communities with a section on accessibility from the perspective of a low vision librarian.

Minneapolis Bridge Collapse Provides Early Test of Wi-Fi Network

Broadband Adoption White Papers