Expand High-Speed Internet Access - Increase Political Voice For All

How much does your access to the internet effect your civic participation? In an ever more connected world of social media and instant internet searches how much would you miss out on if you did not have access to these tools and technologies?

"Equitable and broad internet access is equally critical, not only to provide information but to connect community members to one another and to civic opportunities. America's 2010 Civic Health Assessment reports: 'People who have access to the internet in theier homes and people who use the internet wherever they have opportunity are more likely to get involved in almost every type of (civic) activity. Adults who use the internet regularly were 20% more likely to vote in the 2008 election than adults who did not use the internet." (CHI 2010).

As recommended in the 2010 Greater Seattle Civic Health Index Report, to strengthen political voice for all people in the Greater Seattle Area animportant action we must take is to: "Expand the availability of broadband and high-speed internet throughout the region." (CHI 2010)

Bruce Harrell and the Great Student Initiative are making great strides in this direction for low-income students in the Seattle area at little or no cost to the schools. Read more about their work in this article.

Bruce Harrell says, "I am pleased to introduce the Great Student Initiative, a new partnership program with information, communication and technology companies, and financial institutions to provide low-cost, high-speed Internet access, hardware and software for low-income students in the Seattle Public Schools, and creating a steering committee to advance the goals of the initiative. In the last 18 months, I have worked closely with Comcast and Microsoft’s Shape the Future Education program to build this public/private partnership to deliver technology access to our students."