Technology tips for tough times

By Margo Springs, Michael Armstrong and Gail Roper
CIOs share strategies for employing technology to weather the economic storm

Technology has the ability to deliver relevant, meaningful and personalized resources when and where they are needed. This year, through strategic partnerships, Raleigh's Information Technology
 
Department is delivering two projects aimed specifically at connecting Raleigh to those resources.
 
The first project focuses on helping people in low-income areas overcome barriers to broadband use, such as accessibility, affordability and adoption. The Information Technology Department is working with One Economy, AT&T, the Raleigh Housing Authority and the city's Community Services Department to bring free broadband Internet access to families in the communities of Chavis Heights and Heritage Park in Southeast Raleigh.
 
U.S. Census data indicates that in the communities:
  • 43.6 percent are below the poverty line. The national average is 12.4 percent.
  • 58.4 percent graduated high school. The national average is 80.4 percent.
  • 13 percent received bachelor's degrees. The national average is 24 percent.
AT&T is providing the free service for three years, so the 168 units at Chavis Heights and the 122 units at Heritage Park can connect to broadband Internet. In addition to Internet access, the program will provide access to low-cost computers, customized resident training programs, a community-focused Web site and their own "Digital Connectors." Digital Connectors are young residents between the ages of 14 and 21 in Chavis Heights and the surrounding area who will receive training focused on leadership, financial literacy and technology. In turn, the Digital Connectors will teach their adult neighbors how to access and take advantage of the Internet. The Digital Connectors are a key resource for providing technology training in the underserved communities.
 
City staff and AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) members surveyed Chavis Heights residents to determine their familiarity with computers and the Internet. Survey results are being used to design training and hands-on computer labs for residents.
 
On Oct. 17, the Chavis Heights' Fall Fest provided an opportunity for residents to learn more about the program. U.S. Rep. David Price of the 4th District, U.S. Rep. Brad Miller of the 13th District, Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker, AT&T North Carolina President Cynthia Marshall and other area leaders were on hand to celebrate the milestone with the residents. Providing this kind of access improves the quality of education, helps identify social service resources and eventually promotes workforce development.
The other project aimed at connecting people to resources is providing free wireless access in the most commonly used outdoor public spaces in downtown Raleigh. That is a collaborative project between Raleigh, the Downtown Raleigh Alliance, WindChannel and Cisco.
 
The wireless access was available for the Raleigh Wide Open celebration on Oct. 24. Vendors appreciated the convenience of processing credit card purchases immediately from their booths during the celebration.

About WindChannel Communications

WindChannel Communications provides over twenty local government entities in the Southeast with wireless technology solutions that deliver high-speed Internet connectivity and data transfer. With offices in Atlanta, Georgia and Raleigh, NC, WindChannel operates in nine states and continues to deliver on its vision of a world without wires, WindChannel supplies local government with flexible, quickly deployable and high-capacity substitutes for more costly wired links. Wireless technology expertise combined with world-class customer care, places WindChannel Communications at the forefront in meeting the rising demand for secure, reliable and flexible bandwidth solutions for local government across the Southeastern United States.

For more information please visit www.windchannel.com or contact Kbraley@windchannel.com.