The Digital Divide Network.

IT professionals team up to create Internet-based clearinghouse

So what's all this talk about the "digital divide"--that invisible yet vast gulf between those with access to the Internet and cutting-edge technology and those without? Hardly a day goes by without a glowing news report about a new program, initiative or incentive aimed at helping the poor get their hands on computers or otherwise benefit from today's new technologies.

What happens, however, once you turn off your television or fold up your newspaper? Where exactly are these programs taking place? Who can you call? Where can you sign up to participate? This is where the Digital Divide Network (www.digitaldividenetwork.org) comes in.

Companies from across the computer hardware, software, telecommunications and Internet industries have come together to launch a national clearinghouse that provides information on what the private and public sectors are doing to bridge the digital divide. The Digital Divide Network was one of several directives put forth by President Bill Clinton during the summit on the digital divide held this past winter. "For the first time, America will have a one-stop shop for tracking our progress in every community, and for learning exactly what has worked and what has not," the President announced.

The Digital Divide Network is more than just a Website listing digital divide-related programs. It also serves as a focal point for discussions and the dissemination of new ideas on exactly how to close this technology gap, says Andy Carvin, senior associate at the Benton Foundation, based in Washington, D.C., which organized the project in conjunction with the National Urban League in New York and with other foundations and companies.

The Benton Foundation is an organization that seeks to shape the emerging communications environment and to demonstrate the value of communications for solving social problems. The National Urban League is well known for its civil rights initiatives.

"It's a real opportunity to level the playing field," says B. Keith Fulton, former director of technology policy and resources at the National Urban League. "It's an opportunity for those who are behind to catch up." Fulton recently joined America Online as executive director of corporate relations. AOL is the primary financial backer of the Digital Divide Network.

Carvin, who serves as editor of the Website, says that while it's always good to see new digital divide efforts get under way, it's frustrating to watch nonprofit groups waste their limited resources "reinventing the wheel," instead of making use of the knowledge already gained by similar groups. "They can't afford to make the same mistakes," he said.

One of the more useful parts of the Website is the "Find a Digital Divide Effort Near You" section, which features an interactive map of the United States and a directory of local digital divide-related programs and resources. By clicking on their respective states, users can access a list and contact information for technology centers in their areas. A number of nonprofit organizations and private sector companies, such as the NAACP and AT&T, have joined forces to build additional centers in targeted cities to provide computer training and Internet seminars to tech-starved communities.

Other areas in the digital clearinghouse include "Grants and Funding," a roster of grants, funding opportunities and non-monetary resources available to communities seeking technological assistance. The list is periodically updated. "In the News" is an archive of news articles and a listing of upcoming digital divide-related events and conferences. The section also features in-depth original reporting of breaking issues related to the digital divide.

Among those companies already making headlines is Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey-based DME Interactive Holdings Inc., which, on June 22,1999, became one of the first publicly traded African American-owned Internet companies. DME has partnered with America Online to launch a co-branded online service for the urban market called "Places of Color." The online service will provide unlimited Internet access, e-mail, instant messaging and customized content to minority communities for $19.95 per month (see "A Dash of AOL," Newspoints, this issue).

CEO Darien Dash, who founded DME five years ago (see "Talking Tech and the Stock Market," Techwatch, January 2000), has adopted a personal and professional mission to close the digital divide by expanding hardware and software infrastructure within minority communities. The 28-year-old entrepreneur was among the group of highly sought technology gums present at the White House's digital divide summit.

The "In the Field" page has feature stories detailing the efforts of community organizations and individuals working to bridge the divide. For example, CitySkills.org works with community-based groups to provide job training to adults interested in Internet-related careers. In addition to developing instructional materials and technical assistance tools, CitySkills.org solicits employers to hire from the newly trained talent. The nonprofit emerged out of CitySoft Inc., a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Web development company that hires employees predominately from urban neighborhoods.

The Digital Divide clearinghouse also features a "Research & Data" section, which lists reports from academic institutions, industry groups, policy think tanks and leading Internet gurus. This section also provides links to the latest studies, including "Falling Through the Net: Defining the Digital Divide," the U.S. Department of Commerce report that generated heavy news coverage when it was released in July 1999 (See "Across the Great Divide," Newspoints, March 2000). The Department of Commerce maintains its own digital divide Website (www.digitaldivide.gov).

Among those corporate partners contributing workers as well as funds to the Digital Divide Network are AOL, Bell Atlantic, BellSouth, the Ford Foundation, Gateway, Intel, iVillage and SBC Communications. While some of the partners are direct industry competitors, all of them agreed to "put down their swords" to band together to build the Digital Divide Network. "It just made sense to have all of us work together [cohesively] as much as possible," says Carvin.

Aside from educating people, Fulton points out that the Digital Divide Network's Website helps inspire new efforts by highlighting success stories. "It will be a place where companies can share stories about what they're doing," he explains. He describes the Website as "a backbone that really helps people help themselves."

Closing the technology gap has become a top priority for the Clinton administration and other government and civic leaders. During his keynote address at the annual conference of the Rev. Jesse Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition's Wall Street Project in January, President Clinton noted that many high-quality digital divide-related programs and projects have a hard time linking with the people that they need to reach. "A lot of the people you're trying to reach don't have a computer ... can't afford the hookup," he said.

With the Digital Divide Network, you can participate in discussion groups via the site's Digital Divide automated mailing list. Says Carvin, "Once you subscribe to this list, all messages sent to its e-mail address are forwarded to all subscribers, thus creating an interactive [forum]."

To subscribe, send e-mail to [e-mail] and in the body of the message, write "subscribe digitaldivide youremailaddress." Of course, be sure to replace the word "youremailaddress" with your actual e-mail address. Any comments or suggestions for the Digital Divide Network should be e-mailed to [e-mail].

Digital Divide Corporate Initiatives

A number of corporate organizations have committed funds and resources, including training materials, equipment and mentors to help urban youth compete in the digital age. The following is a sampling of such corporate programs:

* AT&T. In addition to supporting community technology centers, the telecommunications giant is fostering several programs aimed at providing computer training and access. The AT&T Learning Network offers free online resources to help families, schools and communities use technology effectively to enhance teaching and learning. AT&T's Academy of Information Technology is a high school-based curriculum designed to prepare students for an information technology workplace.

* AOL and Gateway. The online service provider and PC manufacturer are among more than a dozen nonprofit organizations, major corporations and federal agencies that have banned together to launch PowerUp. The multimillion dollar project aims to help America's underserved youth acquire technical skills, experiences and resources. AOL has pledged 100,000 accounts for free Internet access. Gateway and the Waitt Family Foundation will provide 50,000 computers.

* SBC Communications. Last November, SBC awarded a $1 million grant to the National Urban League to support its technology programs. The funds will create and maintain community technology centers, which were heralded in the "Falling Through the Net" report as key access points for low-income communities.

* Microsoft. The billion-dollar software maker has teamed up with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to build technology centers at 15 locations nationwide and to develop a model for other clubs. In the program's first year, Microsoft donated $1.1 million in cash and $540,000 in software.

* Intel. The leading chipmaker's Computer Clubhouse Network seeks to create safe, after-school environments for urban youth to work with technology mentors. The goal is to open 100 Intel Computer Clubhouses by 2005. Intel has also partnered with educators to provide a training curriculum developed by teachers for teachers.