Keynoter Ajit Pai, Commissioner, FCC www.fcc.gov, spoke recently at the “Project GOAL” event emphasized the urgent need to move forward and close the digital divide. He explained that the Consumer Advisory Committee at the FCC has had numerous discussions on how to present technology and bring internet access and adoption to older adults.
He recalled how his father, a doctor living in a rural area had to travel distances to visit older patients. If he had not provided that service, then his father’s patients would not have received any treatment, since most were never going to be able to see a specialist because of great distances to travel.
He spoke about several recommendations to provide adequate internet services. First, there is a need to achieve the return on investment in order to provide adequate internet access, Federal, state and local entities must maximize the high speed provided to communities, tax incentives should be provided, barriers to wireless removed, regulations streamlined, and proceeds from the sale of spectrum should be used to provide more up-to-date broadband in rural areas.
Debbie Berlyn, oversees Consumer Policy Solutions for the “Get Older Adults onLine” (Project GOAL) https://theprojectgoal.org. Project Goal was started to help adoption of broadband by older adults and to deal with the changes needed to increase use by this population.
Jackie Puente, Executive Director for External Affairs at Comcast www.xfinity.com mentioned how Comcast has partnered with HUD’s “ConnectHome http://connecthome.hud.gov program. ConnectHome is a public-private collaboration to help families with school age children who live in HUD-assisted housing. The goal is to reach low income communities and provide the tools needed to provide service at a nominal price.
As reported by Emily Allen Senior Vice President, AARP Foundation www.aarp.org/aarp-foundation “Many older adults face isolation and this results in poor health outcomes. There are a range of solutions, but it is important for the older community to tap into the technological knowledge within the younger population.
She mentioned the AARP Foundation’s program called “Mentor Up” which is a way for the Foundation to help not only the young but also seniors in order to connect them with people and organizations. This helps the older population stay connected and face the many challenges in today’s changing world
Susan Diegelman, Director, for Federal Public Affairs at AT&T www.att.com said “AT&T is working on several projects to provide technology to seniors. One step that AT&T has taken is to provide specialized help in communities for all persons but also at the same time, AT&T works to supply information to older adults.”
Presently, AT&T offers low-cost wireline home internet service. This service is available to all participants in the “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the service is offered to participants with an address in AT&T’s 21 state services area where AT&T is offering wireline home internet services, plus the service is offered to participants that reside in California with at least one member in the household receiving SSI benefits.
“Charter Communications plays an important role in providing spectrum assistance”, said Christianna Barnhart, Vice President for Regulatory Affairs for Charter Communications www.charter.com. She discussed how their low income program called “Spectrum Internet Assist” is presently rolling out on a market to market basis.
She added, “The program is unique and plans to provide technology assistance and knowledge so that low income or disabled groups can function in the real world. The program supports, mobile devices, and operating systems plus provides other support.”