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Digital Roadmap Unveiled by Alliance for Digital Equality to Secure High-Speed Internet Access in Every Chicagoland Area Home

Posted on: Wednesday, 27 May 2009, 08:30 CDT

Research Findings Show Life-Enhancing Impact of Affordable

Internet Access in Underserved Communities

CHICAGO, May 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Alliance for Digital Equality's (ADE) Chicago Digital Empowerment Council recently came together to unveil key findings and policy recommendations to empower minority and underserved communities through access to high-speed Internet. The key findings demonstrated the impact of affordable high-speed Internet access in the areas of job creation, public health, public safety, urban and economic development, and educational advancement in the Chicagoland area. ADE's Chicago Digital Empowerment Council (DEC) hosted the event at the Omni Hotel, with leadership from Rev. James L. Demus, Park Manor Christian Church, Bernard Key, CEO Keylink Technologies, Jerome Dishman, Representative IC Stars, Chris Yu, Ph.D., VP ACE Telecom Production Services, and Eric Berquist, Founder Berquist Services.

"Affordable high-speed Internet access can strengthen communities and improve the quality of life for individuals who fully participate in its benefits," ADE Executive Director BMaynard Scarborough said. "Our Chicago Digital Empowerment Council has carefully observed how the lack of broadband Internet access in urban and underserved communities can stifle advancements in healthcare, education, and various areas in our society. High-speed Internet access enables the delivery of life-enhancing services such as telemedicine and more efficient teaching tools such as distance learning to better educate our students."

ADE's Chicago Digital Empowerment Council is part of The Alliance for Digital Equality's nationwide initiative that advocates for increased affordable broadband Internet access and adoption, especially in urban and underserved communities. Digital Empowerment Councils carefully examine how expanded broadband Internet access enhances opportunities for all Americans. In addition to Chicago, there are Digital Empowerment Councils in Miami, Detroit, Houston, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, and Charleston, S.C.

"For the past four months, our Chicago Digital Empowerment Council has worked closely with other community leaders to find the technological differences in underserved and urban areas in the Chicagoland area," said ADE Chicago DEC Chair, Rev. James L. Demus. "Our findings show that communities need access to affordable broadband Internet access in order to guarantee their full participation in the 'digital revolution' that is transforming the nation's economic, social, political, and cultural landscapes." Rev. Demus is also a founding member of the Chicago chapter of The Ministerial Alliance Against the Digital Divide.

As President Obama's Administration and the Federal Communications Commission work to develop a national broadband strategy to ensure that all Americans have access to the Internet, ADE continues its work, as the leading advocate for expanding Internet access, promoting its benefits to the communities that stand to gain the most -- minorities and the underserved urban areas.

ADE's Chicago event follows a national briefing earlier this year held at the request of U.S. House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn where the ADE met with members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to provide key findings about broadband in America and policy recommendations to secure broadband in every home.

To view ADE's findings and recommendations visit www.alliancefordigitalequality.org.

About The Alliance for Digital Equality

Founded in 2007, The Alliance for Digital Equality is a non-profit consumer advocacy organization that serves to facilitate and ensure equal access to technology in underserved communities. The Alliance also serves as a bridge between policymakers and minority individuals in order to help the public understand how legislative and regulatory policies regarding new technologies can impact and empower their daily lives. For more information on The Alliance for Digital Equality, please visit www.alliancefordigitalequality.org.

SOURCE Alliance for Digital Equality

Source: PR Newswire

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