FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IMLS Press Contact
202-653-4799
Giuliana Bullard, gbullard@imls.gov
Help Your Community Reap the Advantages of Broadband Adoption and Digital Literacy
IMLS announces public request for comment and webinar on broadband barriers
Washington, DC—The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is encouraging library, archives, and museums to share their thoughts on how the federal government can expand and promote broadband adoption and digital inclusion. IMLS is one of 25 federal agencies comprising the President’s new interagency Broadband Opportunity Council charged with developing a framework of recommendations to support broadband access and adoption.
The council has issued a request for comment in the Federal Register for public input to get a better understanding of the challenges facing communities that lack adequate access to broadband. It aims to identify unnecessary regulatory and policy barriers, incentivize investment, and align funding policies to support broadband access and adoption.
A free webinar to explain the request for comment’s purpose and objectives will be held on May 20, 2015, from 4:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. EDT. Members of the public will be able to pose questions about the request for comment to the federal partners, including IMLS. Space for the webinar will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4277364480826458625 by May 13, 2015. Upon registration, webinar link and information will be distributed.
“Community anchor institutions, like libraries and museums, play a critical role in educating residents about the importance of being digitally literate so they can take advantage of the economic, educational, and social opportunities online. All public libraries in the United States offer free Internet access. The library is where people in underserved areas, in rural, tribal, or inner city communities, go to get online access and support and get support and training from knowledgeable staff,” said Maura Marx, Acting IMLS Director. “IMLS is committed to advancing a national digital platform that delivers online content and services to all Americans over an essential broadband infrastructure.”
IMLS encourages libraries and museums to submit their comments and disseminate this call widely. The Twitter hashtag for the call is #broadbandboc. Comments can be submitted until the June 10 deadline by email to BOCrfc2015@ntia.doc.gov or by mail to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 4626, Attn: Broadband Opportunity Council, Washington, DC 20230.
About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.