... And access for all? Underserved communities go online.

The high costs of computers have made emerging technologies inaccessible to a large segment of America's population, leaving low-income communities and families in the slow lane on the information superhighway.

To combat this problem, the White House recently set an initiative to have every school, library, hospital and clinic connected to the National Information Infrastructure (NII) by the year 2000. Accordingly, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce, provides seed funding for projects that link communities and computer technology.

"The Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program [TIIAP] funds model organizations that will assist us in learning how to build public/private partnerships that make low-income communities technologically literate," says Larry Irving, assistant secretary for communications and information and head of the NTIA. In 1995, TIIAP awarded $36 million in matching grant funds to 117 organizations (for more information, see "Resources for Access," Techwatch, this issue).

Plugged In, based in East Palo Alto, Calif., is one such organization. Founded in 1992 by executive director Bart Decrem, Plugged In provides computer and Internet access, training and support, serving 250 people a week from the predominantly low-income minority-populated area.

In addition to TIIAP funding ($200,000 for 18 months), Plugged In also receives funds and equipment from Bay Networks, Intel Corp. and Global Village--all Silicon Valley computer concerns. Business sector donations are an important part of the success of these programs. "For every dollar we've put into a given organization, the business sector has contributed from $1 to $1.50," affirms Irving.

Plugged In has 30 computers with Internet access. The organization has also formed partnerships with other community service agencies (e-mail: info@ pluggedin.org; or online at http:// www.pluggedin.org.; or call 415-322-1134).

The United South End Settlements/Harriet Tubman House (USES) fills a similar void for Boston's Roxbury neighborhood, with minimal financial resources, however. Chris Commodore, coordinator of educational computer services, estimates that the computer center is used by some 250 to 300 people per week.

In addition to computer classes, the center's 24 computers are open to the public two days a week, when anyone can walk in and use the facility for resumes, online job searches or other computer-related activities. Unfortunately, the computer center has only one line for Internet access.

"It's a constant struggle for us to keep up with the pace of technology with equipment that is often obsolete when we get it," says Commodore. Without volunteers, USES would be unable to provide the community with access to technology.

On February 24, USES hosted the Inner City Access Web site launch, which gives the Boston inner-city neighborhoods of Dorchester, Roxbury and Mattapan a presence in cyberspace. Each neighborhood has its own home page, which includes links to other Web sites. Inner City Access will also use the computer facility to conduct e-mail and World Wide Web classes for community residents.

Several black-owned businesses in the Boston area contribute services to the Inner City Access project, including AfriNET (http://www.afrinet. net), a local Internet service provider, and Intellitech Consulting Enterprises; they will maintain the Web sites. The sites are: http://www.roxbury.com; http://www. dorchester.com; and http://www.mattapan.com. Or call 617-324-2800.

EDITED BY
Tariq K. Muhammad

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