The Digital Bridge Trust Fund ActThe Digital Bridge Trust Fund Act

October 4, 2000Midterm Briefing

Digital Bridge Trust Fund Act

Faculty Advisor: Deborah E. Ward

Project Manager: Jennifer Sly

Deputy Manager: Nirmala Patni

Members: Maria Bustria,Tammy Draut,

Hirofumi Kawakita, Maki Kobayashi, Ying Liu, Kristin Sullivan, Joy Wang, Bernard Wee, and ThaoMee Xiong

Agenda

• Background

• Legislation

• Program & Goals

• Program Design Criteria

• Program Design

• Conclusion

Background

What is the digital divide problem?

• Urban households with earnings of $75,000 or more are 20 times more likely to have home internet access than rural households of the lowest income level.

• National average for home computers is 42.1% and for internet access, 26.2%. For rural Native Americans, 26.8% have home computers and 18.9%, internet access.

• The internet access gap between white and black households grew by 37.7% between 1997-1998.

Legislation

The Digital Bridge Trust Fund Act HR 4477

Funding: Telephone Excise Tax

Target Population: Underserved rural, urban, and Native American Communities

Mission: Provide financial assistance to areas lacking technical resources and education.

Program & GoalsWhat?

Community Technology Centers ($200M)

Why? Assist in bridging digital divide

Where? Underserved rural, urban, Native American

areas

How? Provide funding to various community based organizations who are interested in setting up community technology centers.

Program Design Criteria

• Cost

• Time

• Effectiveness

• Feasibility

Program Design

I. Program Structure

II. Funding Allocation

III.Oversight and Enforcement

• Board of Trustees (11 members)

• Digizone Administrator

• 6 Regional Digizone Committees1. President

2. Experts for each target community

3. State liaisons

4. Staff

Program Design: Program Structure

Program Design: Program Structure

PresidentExperts

State LiaisonsStaff

NORTHEASTDIGIZONE

PresidentExperts

State LiaisonsStaff

M ID-ATLDIGIZONE

PresidentExperts

State LiaisonsStaff

SOUTHDIGIZONE

PresidentExperts

State LiaisonsStaff

SOUTHWESTDIGIZONE

PresidentExperts

State LiaisonsStaff

M IDWESTDIGIZONE

PresidentExperts

State LiaisonsStaff

WESTDIGIZONE

DIGIZONE ADM INISTRATOR

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Board of Trustees Responsibilities:

• Appoint and oversee 6 digizone committees.

• Ensure equitable funding allocation of $200M budget to each digizone.

• Yearly status report to President and Congress.

Program Design: Program Structure

Digizone Administrator Responsibilities:

• Initiate and organize periodic meetings with regional digizone presidents.

• Communicate each digizone’s progress and concerns to Board of Trustees.

• Oversight and assessment of program’s overall progress.

Program Design: Program Structure

Digizone Committee Responsibilities:

• Conduct needs assessment of region.

• Communication with local and state agencies.

• Implement and disseminate grant procedures to state liaisons and staff.

• Establish criteria for applicant selection.

• Review applications and award funds.

• Overall enforcement and oversight.

Program Design: Program Structure

State Liaison Responsibilities:

• Ensure equitable access to funding opportunities across 50 states through equal representation.

• Disseminate application process information to all communities and various institutions.

• Ensure information on fund availability gets communicated to those target communities that program is intended to serve.

Program Design: Program Structure

Program Budget: $200 M

Staffing15%

Grant Funding 70%

Community Outreach 5%

Strategic Assessment& Planning 10%

Program Design: Funding Allocation

Step One:

Board of Trustees allocates $200 M to each regional digizone.

Step Two:

Digizone Committees allocate funds to communities based on application and selection criteria.

Program Design: Funding Allocation

• GranteesSemi-annual reports

• Regional Digizone Committees

Annual reports

• Board of Trustees

Annual report to Congress

Program Design: Oversight & Enforcement

Conclusion

• Next Steps

• Expectations