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On Monday the White House announced another round of grant recipients in the Broadband Technologies Opportunity Program (BTOP). Among the grants awarded was a $11.8 million Sustainable Broadband Adoption grant to the Urban Affairs Coalition and several sub-recipients, including the Media Mobilizing Project (MMP). The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration's (NTIA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, provides grants to expand broadband access and adoption in communities across the U.S. in order to increase jobs, spur investments in technology and infrastructure, and provide long-term economic benefits. In Philadelphia, the Sustainable Broadband Adoption program--called Freedom Rings--will increase broadband adoption through providing relevant training, specifically in skills development, education, healthcare, and media production. Trainings in computer literacy, workforce, and education skills will be integrated into existing social service programs the recipient organizations provide.

The award caps a campaign that began 16 months ago, when MMP lobbied the City of Philadelphia to bring together community constituents to apply for federal BTOP grants. "This award is the culmination of a long process, in which MMP worked with the City, Philadelphia Fight, the Knight Foundation, Digital Impact Group, UAC, the Free Libraries, New America's Open Technology Initiative and many other organizations to create a vision for a Digital Philadelphia that prioritizes solving the digital divide," stated Todd Wolfson of Media Mobilizing Project. "Poverty is on the rise in Philadelphia, and Internet access and economic well-being are deeply connected--through our leadership, city projects are designed to address the highest need and least served in the region." This award will allow the city to extend broadband adoption training to nearly 15,000 residents. Coordinated by the Urban Affairs Coalition, the grant will create training programs hosted by community organizations, minority-owned businesses, and higher education partners to encourage families and individuals to use broadband internet and drive economic recovery.

MMP began working to ensure Philadelphia benefits from broadband opportunities available in the stimulus bill in early 2009 through community education, partnerships with broadband adoption experts, and collaboration with public sector organizations. Planning for the grants officially began with the A Digital Philadelphia Summit in July 2009 where 50 community groups, including MMP, worked with the City of Philadelphia's Department of Technology to design the goals of the proposals. The $11.8 million program follows another successfully awarded proposal to invest $6.4 million to create or improve 77 computer labs across the city. "This federal stimulus grant award shows that community-based organizations can lead the way in connecting poor and working people in our city with necessary technology education," said Bryan Mercer of Media Mobilizing Project. Partnering organizations bring a long history of experience in computer-based learning. In addition to MMP, lead partners include Philadelphia FIGHT, People's Emergency Center, Youth Outreach Adolescent Community Awareness Program, One Day at a Time, and Drexel University.

Media Mobilizing Project works to build stronger community organizations through media production training, education, and media policy advocacy.

Urban Affairs Coalition Press Release: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs035/1102170711038/archive/110368420...

NTIA Press Release: http://www2.ntia.doc.gov/grantee/the-urban-affairs-coalition

For Press Info

CONTACT: Bryan Mercer
Media Mobilizing Project
215-439-5056
bryan 'at' mediamobilizing.org