This document discusses bridging the digital divide in America. It notes that 1 in 5 US residents lack home broadband access or computer skills to use the Internet. Certain demographics, like those over 65 and households in California, have high rates of lacking Internet access. Three ways to bridge the divide discussed are mapping community resources, supporting local nonprofits working in this area, and discovering low-cost Internet plans. It provides some examples of organizations working to address the digital divide.

1. BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE!
(The challenge facing America)

2. WHAT IS THE DIGITAL DIVIDE?
• 1 in 5 US resident remain invisible in our
digital society with no home broadband
access to the Internet or the computer skills
necessary to use the Internet.
• Individuals 65 and older (43.2%) are without
internet access. According to The Oakland
Local.com
• The US Census Bureau (31.5%) of households in
California are without Internet access.

3. CYBERS SENIORS
www.sfconnected.org
Closing the divide!!!

4. THREE WAYS TO BRIDGE THE DIVIDE
1) Mapping your community assets:
The first step in closing the digital divide is to
understand your community resources. Do you
know how many households are without internet
access? Where can senior go to learn basic
computer skills?
Where are the public WiFi hotspots?
62 million American do not use the Internet!
EveryoneOn.org is a national nonprofit that aim to
eliminate the digital divide by making high-speed
Internet low-cost.

5. BRIDGING THE GAP
2) Support local nonprofits already working to
close the digital divide.
Volunteer at your local library or senior center
3) Discover low cost Internet Service Plans.
www.sfconnected.org – 415-355-3555
www.everyoneon.org – 1-855-EVRY1ON

6. FREE COMPUTER LESSONS
www.digitallearn.org
www.gcflearnfree.org
Cyber Seniors
The movie trailer on you tube

7. QUESTIONS???
Technology and the Great Recession
Dec. 2007 to June 2009
The Recession of 1981 was called the
Deep Recession.
Around 27 million workers 1 out of every 6 US
Workers or either unemployed or
underemployed
-The State of Working America-