Feb
14
2013

Digital Literacy Gap Announcement

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST
Southwest Family Enhancement Center, 203 N Street SW, Washington, DC

On Thursday, February 14, 2013, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski joined HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan and representatives from Connect2Compete, Best Buy, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the District of Columbia Housing Authority to announce an effort on digital literacy as part of a national initiative to close the broadband adoption gap. In the spring of 2013, Connect2Compete and Best Buy's Geek Squad in partnership with HUD and other partner facilities, will launch a national digital literacy training program.

Currently one-third of Americans don't subscribe to broadband services at home and more than 60 million Americans lack digital literacy skills, which are the basic skills needed to use a computer and the Internet. Connect2Compete is a national nonprofit coalition dedicated to helping narrow the digital divide by making high-speed Internet access, computers, educational and job content, and digital literacy training more accessible for millions of Americans without home connectivity.

WHAT:
FCC Chairman Genachowski and HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan Genachowski will visit the Southwest Family Enhancement Center in Washington, D.C. to announce the new digital literacy partnership between Connect2Compete and HUD. Representatives from government, companies, and non-profits will deliver remarks.

WHO:
Julius Genachowski, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission
Shaun Donovan, Secretary, Housing and Urban Development
Zachary Leverenz, CEO, Connect2Compete
Susan Hildreth, Director, Institute of Museum and Library Services
Scott Durchslag, President of Online and Global e-Commerce, Best Buy
Adrianne Todman, Executive Director, District of Columbia Housing Authority

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