Note: Net Literacy Alliance is a part of Net Literacy. This page contains whitepapers and FCC filings for all Net Literacy Programs.

Net Literacy Whitepapers, Summits, & FCC Filings

1. Digital Inclusion: Bringing the Rest of America Online With Broadband (2009)

Daniel Kent & David P. McClure, 2009

Introduction and Summary

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Though there remain a need for better data regarding the nation’s broadband infrastructure and targeted programs to build out and enhance that infrastructure, the larger and more critical issue is how to spur the adoption of broadband among the one-third of Americans who currently do not or will not utilize it.
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USIIA and Net Literacy believe it essential that the United States place a high priority for such programs in any National Broadband Plan, and that we begin the process of bringing together those organizations and agencies best able to address the adoption problem at the local level. This paper concludes that such a program is possible through coordinated public-private partnerships, and that it could be accomplished within the framework set forth by the Congress and the Obama Administration.

Kent, D., & McClure, D. P. (2009). Digital Inclusion: Bringing the Rest of America Online With Broadband. Washington, D.C.: US Internet Industry Association http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=6520219736
(alternate link)

2. Reply Comments of Net Literacy Corporation. Washington, D.C.: The Federal Communications Commission (2009)

Daniel Kent, 2009

Introduction and Summary

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Net Literacy recommends that:

• K-12 students on free or assisted lunch programs and without a computer at home should be the National Broadband Plan‟s highest priority.
• A Digital Literacy Corps of student volunteers should be an important component of the National Broadband Plan.
• Executive Order 12999 should be amended to provide K-12 schools a “right of first refusal” for all Federal Government computers deemed surplus.

Kent, D. (2009). Reply Comments of Net Literacy Corporation. Washington, D.C.: The Federal Communications Commission – http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020350670
(alternate link)

3. Net Literacy Co-Hosts “A Roadmap to Broadband Adoption” Summit in Washington DC with the USIIA and Broadband for America (June, 2010).

The summit was attended by more than 150 Congressional staffers, digital inclusion nonprofits, and inside-the-beltway executives.  Speakers included FCC executives Blair Levin, Brian David, John Horrigan, among twenty other distinguished speakers.

Listen to the introduction of the summit which includes:

• A welcome by USIIA President and CEO David P. McClure and the purpose of the Summit
• A welcome by Net Literacy Founder Daniel Kent and recognition of David McClure, Brian Levin, and John Horrigan as “Net Literacy Heroes,”
• A welcome by Net Literacy Chair Don Kent discussing the challenges that broadband adoption efforts and how they must return taxpayers and investors a strong return on investment, and
• A welcome by the US Telecom Association President and CEO Walter B. McCormick and the importance of broadband adoption.

Note: a DVD of the entire conference can be ordered by emailing [email protected] for a price of $35.00.  This will pay for postage and handling and also pay for computers and training to be provided to two families with children on free or assisted lunch programs and without a computer at home.

4. Kent, D. (December, 2010). Public Policy Recommendations for Advancing Digital Social Equity in the United States.

This whitepaper recommends a National Broadband Czar be named, a digital inclusion cost/benefit analysis be conducted to maximize taxpayer ROI, the FCC continue its public outreach strategy, a more intensive review of international digital inclusion, digital literacy, and national broadband plans be conducted, and the National Broadband Plan’s recommendations be prioritized, have an ROI, and a completion timetable. Funding broadband adoption and use as a component of the National Broadband Plan is reviewed using national funding with national, state, and local implications. Finally, two cost hypothetical are estimated to provide readers a range of the costs based upon the stated execution and cost assumptions.

Kent, D. (May, 2011). Bi-College Law Review, Haverford, PA, Public Policy Recommendations for Advancing Digital Social Equity in the United States Advancing Digital Social Equity Through the Application of Innovative Digital Literacy Programs

5. Kent, D. (July, 2011). A Discourse on the Discordant State of Collecting Domestic Digital Duties.

Net Literacy believes that current statutes taxing inter-state e-commerce are facially unconstitutional because they violate the Commerce Clause and Federal legislation. Should the current statues taxing inter-state e-commerce be found to be unconstitutional, taxes on inter-state e-commerce may have to be refunded. Class action suits may be a remedy that states will be required to contend with.

Kent, D. (July 2011). Net Literacy, Indianapolis, IN, A Discourse on the Discordant State of Collecting Domestic Digital Duties

6. Kent, D. (October, 2011). US Telecom Research Summit, Washington DC, Broadband’s Increasing Value Proposition

Analyzing broadband from the perspective of population groups with low adoption rates, Net Literacy explores research that provides insight how broadband adoption can be increased and the digital divide can be reduced – with a focus on Comcast’s Internet Essential and CenturyLink’s Internet Basic programs. US Telecom Research Summit – Net Literacy PPT Presentation

Additional whitepapers in process:

8.  Kent D. and Qat, E. (estimated completion -2012), Proposed Title: Digital Inclusion Good Practices in Hong Kong vs. America – A Surprising Conclusion