1.
Integrating Digital Inclusion,
Dissolving Silos
ICA Digital Divide Preconference: Communication and "The Good Life”
May 22, 2014

2.
Angela Siefer
Senior Research Associate,
Center for Digital Inclusion
asiefer@illinois.edu
@angelasiefer

3.
Digital Inclusion Definition
"Digital inclusion is the ability of
individuals and groups to access and use
information and communication
technologies."
From “Building DigitalCommunities: A
Framework for Action”, 2011

4.
City sponsored:
Seattle Minneapolis Austin Chicago Philadelphia
Public Statements
x x x x
Access & Use Surveys
x x x
University
of IL at
Chicago
x
Staff
x x x
Dedicated Digital
Inclusion Funding x x x x
Involvement in City-
wide Digital Inclusion
Network
x x x x

5.
• 1995 - CitizensTelecommunications andTechnology
Advisory Board created.
• 1996 - Staff position created. Community
Technology Program now has 4 full-time staff.
• 1996 - Funding established.
• 2000 - Survey conducted approximately every 4
years.
City of Seattle

6.
• 2004 - 4 local organizations partner on an AmeriCorps
grant to utilize community tech resources.
• 2006 -Technology Literacy Collaborative created.
• 2007 - Funding established.
• 2010 - Staff position created.
• 2012 - Survey conducted annually.
City of Minneapolis

7.
• 2006 – Mayor’s Advisory Council on Closing the Digital
Divide was created.
• 2009 – Community technology planning process
conducted in 5 neighborhoods.
• 2010 – BTOP SBA award.
• 2013 – City of ChicagoTechnology Plan released.
City of Chicago

8.
• 1995 - Austin FreeNet support begins.
• 2011 - Survey conducted.
• 2013 - Austin City Council approved $200,000 for
community technology and $50,000 to conduct a
residential survey.
City of Austin

9.
• 2010 - NTIA awards two BTOP grants in Philadelphia.
• 2010 - Office of Innovation andTechnology is created.
• 2011 - City hires a Chief Innovation Officer.
• 2013 - Funding established for internal and external
Keyspots.
• 2013 - Survey conducted.Will be released 2014.
City of Philadelphia

10.
Internal External
Academy of
Municipal
Innovation
Innovation Lab
Innovation
Fund
City of Philadelphia
Components of Innovation
CivicApps Open
Data
Digital
Inclusion

11.
“Among the KEYSPOTS
partners, there is no
single organization that
‘owns’ digital inclusion.
Digital inclusion is
something that
everyone can, and
should, collectively own
in Philadelphia.”
Ashley Del Bianco, Program Manager,
Office of Innovation andTechnology, City of Philadelphia

12.
City sponsored:
1. Stakeholder engagement that results in public statements of digital
inclusion goals and strategies
2. Information technology access & use surveys.
3. Staff dedicated to digital inclusion.
4. Dedicated digital inclusion funding.
5. Involvement in a city-wide digital inclusion network.

13.
The city’s involvement does the following:
• Increases the likelihood that digital inclusion
issues will be integrated into other city
departments and community-based efforts.
• Reduces the possibility that the digital
inclusion efforts could become a political
casualty.
• Increases potential for a reliable source of
funding.
• Helps ensure that investments from all sectors
are coordinated and strategic.