Communities Connect Network

A project of the EdLab Group, Communities Connect Network (CCN) is a statewide coalition of public and private organizations working to make Washington State a leader in "digital inclusion" – the movement to ensure that all individuals have access and the skills to use the Internet and information technologies.

CCN brings together community technology providers with state and local governments, corporate, philanthropic, and individual supporters to ensure that all residents are able to fully participate in Washington's increasingly technology-rich society.

Most recently, CCN is the recipient of federal Department of Commerce NTIA Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) funding for public computing centers. The Communities Connect Network Project works to improve broadband adoption rates, workforce preparation, digital literacy, access to education, justice resources, and training at 22 sites in seven counties around Washington State. Partners include non-profits, libraries, community centers and courthouses. See "details" for more information about the project.

CCN leads the following activities in order to foster digital inclusion and broadband adoption:

Maps the community technology providers and learning centers in the state;
Convenes a statewide Council on Digital Inclusion to advise, ensure strategic investments, develop partnerships and advocate for digital inclusion in Washington;
Provides expertise and research on the state of digital inclusion and broadband adoption in Washington;
Encourages sustainability and best practices in digital literacy and access service delivery through its resource portal and training for community technology providers.

Futher information

For more information about CCN, contact Kathy Johnson.

Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP)

EdLab Group has received an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant of $4,169,734 from the Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP) of the Department of Commerce National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) for the Communities Connect Network Project (CCNP).

The Communities Connect Network Project expands the capacity of Washington State public computing centers (PCCs) to improve broadband adoption rates, workforce preparation, digital literacy, access to education, justice resources, and training. The project demonstrates that tribal and government agencies, libraries, educators, public housing, the courts, and non-profits in our state are committed to work together for real digital inclusion, broadband adoption, and to ensure quality public computer learning services for residents in need. The Communities Connect Network Project fosters equitable access, training and increased broadband adoption through:

adding and upgrading computers and software, adding assistive technology, extending operating hours, and establishing two new public computer centers with public access computers at courthouses;
capacity-building training to help PCCs meet the needs of vulnerable populations including in the areas of digital skill building, education, online legal services, and workforce preparation;
encouraging information distribution and sharing on the topics of education, workforce preparation, online safety, legal, financial literacy, and computer lab management through an online resource portal; and
establishing a web portal that includes a Network Directory of all public computing centers in the state to help residents locate PCCs, and a Resource Library to help PCC staff find and share relevant information and documents.

As of November 2011, over 100 new computers have been placed in public computing centers across Washington State. Low-income families are able to access broadband services for education, job, health, and civic tools that information technology provides. Public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and libraries across the state are now better able to utilize high-speed Internet services through resources and training to meet the community needs.

The public computing centers participating in CCNP include the following, although centers across the state will benefit from the resources and training developed through this grant:

Libraries: Burlington Public Library, La Conner Regional Library, Puyallup Public Library, Upper Skagit Library, and Yakama Nation Library
Non-profit organizations: Associated Recreation Council/RecTech, Chinese Information and Service Center, Digital Promise (STAR, Westwood Heights), Full Life Care (Denny Terrace, Jefferson Terrace), East African Community Services, Edith Bishel Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Helping Link, Horn of Africa Services, La Casa Hogar, Lopez Island Family Resource Center, Metrocenter YMCA, Multimedia Resources & Training Institute, Neighborhood House (Highpoint and Rainier Vista), New Futures Technology Labs, and Street Youth Ministries
Justice sites: Chelan County Court/Law Library and the Kalispel Tribal Court

CCN's Leadership Advisory Group includes representatives who are from:

City of Seattle Department of Information Technology
EdLab Group
Infinitely Meta, Inc.
Metrocenter YMCA
One Economy Corporation
Online Computer Library Center (OCLC)
Stone Soup
Technology Access Foundation
University of Washington Information School
Washington Independent Telecommunications Association
Washington State Library, Office of the Secretary of State
WebJunction
Yakima Interfaith Coalition, Home of La Casa Hogar and 107 House

Other key partners in digital inclusion efforts of CCNP are the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County, WorkSource, Office of Civil Legal Aid, Northwest Justice Project, Washington State Access to Justice Board, and NPower Northwest, organizations that work to bring access to important services to all residents of Washington State.