Tech Training Solutions Archives - Community Tech Network https://communitytechnetwork.org/blog/category/tech-training-solutions/ Transforming lives through digital equity. Fri, 03 Sep 2021 13:21:13 +0000 en-US hourly 1 191098424 Congress Passes Emergency Broadband Benefit Program https://communitytechnetwork.org/blog/congress-passes-emergency-broadband-benefit-program/ Tue, 30 Mar 2021 14:22:44 +0000 https://communitytechnetwork.org/?p=13049 The pandemic continues to shift many aspects of our daily lives online — from accessing telehealth, completing schoolwork, searching for jobs, and working from home. Now more than ever, internet access is essential to participate in society, and yet, many still lack access. While the FCC reports that 19 million Americans (6 percent of the population) do not have fixed broadband service at threshold speeds, Microsoft found that this number may actually be closer to 168 million. This is in part due to connectivity’s costs. A report by New America found that, on average, Americans pay some of the highest monthly internet bills in the world. Of the 296 internet plans in New America’s dataset, only 6 met the recommended $10/month benchmark for low-income households. In response to this crisis, the Federal Communications Commission established the Emergency Broadband Benefit program. This new program uses funds allocated in the COVID Relief Bill to help struggling households access the internet throughout the pandemic. Eligible households may receive a monthly discount of up to $50 ($75 on tribal lands) for their monthly internet bill. In addition, consumers can buy a low-cost device for between $10 and $50 from their internet company. Eligibility and […]

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]]> 13049 Getting East Bay Families Connected https://communitytechnetwork.org/blog/getting-east-bay-families-connected/ Tue, 06 Oct 2015 23:37:58 +0000 http://ctnbayarea.org/?p=7786 In the next few months, Community Technology Network will be rolling out a new program providing digital literacy training to low-income East Bay residents. The California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) has expanded to fund broadband access and adoption efforts in publicly supported housing communities. In 2013, AB 1299 was signed into law, creating CASF’s Broadband Public Housing Account. Eligible housing developments can apply for funds to cover infrastructure build-out and digital literacy classes, so residents will have access to the Internet in their homes and training in how to use it. Many low-income families are sitting in the digital darkness. A CETF 2015 survey reports that 48 percent of people without a high school diploma lack home broadband access. Among the reasons for not having Internet at home, 36 percent said it was too difficult to set up or learn. CTN is partnering with CASF grantee Satellite Affordable Housing Associates (SAHA) to provide digital literacy training to SAHA housing communities in three East Bay cities. We will deliver workshops in English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Cantonese and also provide support for program development and training for SAHA’s volunteers. Chris Hess, SAHA’s director of resident services, says this about the partnership. SAHA’s partnership with CTN and ReliaTech is an amazing opportunity […]

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