Alston’s CETF RecapMy 15 Day

Experience!

Agenda3:00 - 3:02 : Review Agenda (Now)

3:02 - 3:05 : Show understanding of organization and of the Digital Divide

3:05 - 3:15: Summarize my assignment (report)

3:15 - 3:25: Questions

3:25 - 3:30: Final thoughts

What is CETF?-nonprofit organization that was set-up by the California Public Utilities Commission

-goal is to advance broadband (t/deployment and adoption)

-close the Digital Divide

-started many initiatives including: Get Connected!, Digital Literacy, School2Home, and Smart Housing

-policy goal: Internet For All Now

-10 years finished, focus on next 5 years

What is the Digital Divide?The priority focus for CETF:

-rural communities → lacking broadband infrastructure

-the poor and disadvantaged → lacking computers and affordable connections

-people with disabilities → lacking accessible technology

Nuances:

-quality of connection, quality of engagement, digital literacy, parent’s involvement, diversity in the tech field

AssignmentGoals:

-learn about young adult’s views on the Digital Divide

-learn about why some people connect to the Internet only through their phone

Method:

-create questionnaire

-create report analyzing data from participants

Questionnaire-42 questions, (13 closed ended Q’s, 19 open ended Q’s, and 10 demographic questions)

-done over the phone and t/ online questionnaire

-CLF / OTX West

-has gone through many revisions

-careful word choice

-takes around 20 minutes

-not scientific, anecdotal

Report / AnalysisRecommendations:

-Raise awareness / social media / connect DD to injustice

-Community Service Clubs

-Education

Social Media-12.5% read more than 3 articles on topic/consider themselves up to date

-55% have heard about topic but have never read an article about it

-5/38 respondents had seen a social media post about the DD in the last week

-59% believed it to be very or extremely important for all households to have high speed Internet access

-IFAN FB/Twitter

-connection to injustice/simpler words → attract youth

Community Service Clubs-Key Club/Interact

-service initiatives/community projects

-partner organizations

-awareness and engagement for youth

-effective → incentives: service hours/friends

Education-”Don’t Know”, “Uhhhhh”

-incorporate into school curriculum

-discussions, bring in guest speakers, host tech events

-climate change/inequality

-CS, required class

Questions? (10 minutes)

Future-further my passion in the Digital Divide

-further my passion in computer science and tech.

-start raising awareness in my school and then outside of school

-position in Interact

-more social justice work

Thank you!