New Community Technology Centers, Study Funded; RFP Open

President Clinton announced the award of $44 million in grants to establish 214 more Community Technology Centers in economically distressed, high-poverty communities. The centers -- to be housed in libraries, schools, community centers, community colleges, public housing facilities, & other organizations -- will make computers & the Internet available to low-income residents in urban & rural communities. Business & community partners will provide matching funds. For more information, including a list of recipients by state, see: http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/04-2000/0418.html

The work of the Community Technology Centers will soon be strengthened by the creation of a new America Connects Consortium. The Consortium shall bring together stakeholders whose services are critical to the success of projects funded under the Community Technology Centers. The effort will launch a focused, coordinated, and comprehensive national effort to promote, support, and sustain Community Technology Centers. The Consortium will consider the needs of the field in terms of technical assistance and research and provide services to meet them. The Department is currently inviting abstracts for proposals to establish the consortium. The deadline is May 24, 2000. Base funding for the Consortium will be $2 million per year. The announcement is available at: http://ocfo.ed.gov/CONINFO/2CBD.HTM

The centers & consortium are part of the President's Digital Opportunity Initiative challenging corporations & non-profit organizations to provide 21st century learning tools for every child in every school & to create digital opportunity for every American family & community.

Last week, Commerce Secretary William M. Daley announced the award of a $100,450 contract to the Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Va., for a survey of 100 Community Technology Centers (CTCs). The survey will focus on the CTCs' information technology resources, factors impeding the creation of new technology centers, the integration of CTCs into economically distressed neighborhoods, methods for increasing access to the CTCs, and ways for improving their effectiveness. The Contract was awarded by the Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) under its Technology Opportunities Program (TOP).