Introducing Adoption Plus: Broadband + Education = Greater Opportunity [CableTechTalk]
Yesterday, the National Cable Telecommunications Association (NCTA), the cable industry's trade association, announced an innovative proposal designed at increasing broadband adoption across the nation. Called Adoption Plus, the two-year pilot program focuses on bridging the digital divide among low-income families with children in middle school that don't currently receive broadband service. Adoption Plus' goal is to give millions of students the tools to overcome barriers to broadband adoption, allowing them to become 21st century digital citizens.
Each member company represented on the NCTA's board of directors, including Insight, have agreed to participate in Adoption Plus. Other ISPs, including telephone ISPs, have been invited to participate in Adoption Plus. The NCTA filed the Adoption Plus proposal as part of the request for information process for the federal broadband stimulus and the proposal has also been filed with the FCC as part of its request for comments on the development of a national broadband plan.
Here's a summary of what Adoption Plus entails, from the CableTechTalk blog:
- A+ would promote the adoption of broadband service to households that do not currently receive it, by offering comprehensive digital media literacy education, discounted computers, and discounted home broadband service to households representing up to 3.5 million American children in grades 6 through 9 who are eligible to receive a free or reduced-cost meal through the National School Lunch Program.
- We propose that school districts administer the program, apply for federal funding, and partner with non-profit corporations promoting digital media literacy, computer manufacturers and/or retailers, and cable and other broadband Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
- Perhaps the most important role of the school districts is to implement digital media literacy programs, including online safety training, and training on how to use computers and broadband. Including administration costs, we recommend that $100 million of federal funding be used for school districts which apply to set up an A+ program.
- We also anticipate that computer manufacturers would supply discounted computers as partners in A+, but ask the government to consider whether and to what extent federal funding is appropriate to help further discount the cost of computers.
- For each eligible household, participating ISPs would provide free installation of broadband service; a 50 percent discount off the monthly subscription cost of their entry level broadband service; and a 50 percent discount off the cost of modem equipment, whether purchased or rented.
- It is important to note that, while we recommend federal funding for digital media literacy training and administration of this program by school districts, we are not seeking any government funding of the ISPs’ contribution to A+.
NCTA estimates that approximately 1.8 million households meet the Adoption Plus guidelines that currently don't receive broadband service. Adoption Plus intends to address multiple barriers to broadband adoption by incorporating discounted broadband, digital literacy training and discounted computers as part of the overall proposal. The overall value of Adoption Plus from the cable companies that have agreed to participate in the program could exceed $500 million over the two years of the pilot program.
Adoption Plus represents a significant commitment by America's cable companies toward the vision of getting all Americans connected to the Internet. Here at Insight, we're excited to be part of this proposal. If you're interested in reading additional information about the details of Adoption Plus, you can find more on NCTA's web site here.
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