Michael Liimatta of Connecting for Good at the Gigabit City Summit, Jan. 14, 2015, in Kansas City, MO.

1. BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IN KANSAS CITY

2. Internet Benefits Low Income Families
 Increased educational success at all levels
 Online jobs search and career development
 Access to social services and health information
 Cost-saving advantages of online shopping
 Search for vehicles and safe, affordable housing
 Connect with family and friends
 Assistance on the path to integration and citizenship

3. Reasons for Not Getting Online
 #1 is Cost – Biggest expense is a owning a computer.
 #2 is Intimidation – Not knowing how to use the PC and
the Internet. Where do they go to learn these skills?
 #3 is Relevancy – Not knowing what can be done online
and how it applies to their lives.
 #4 is Affordable Service – However, if people have
overcome 1-3 they will find a way to get connected!

4. Digital Divide in Metro Kansas City
 50% in Kansas City KS don’t have Internet in their homes.
#7 least connected large city in America (2013 US Census)
 80% of households in low income, minority neighborhoods
do not own computers or have static Internet connections
 70% of Kansas City Public Schools students have no Internet
at home. 40% move during the school year.
 78% of low income families reside in multi-family subsidized
housing facilities

5. Four Pronged Solution
 Inexpensive Refurbished
Computer Equipment
 Digital Life Skills Training
 Free and Affordable
Internet Connectivity
 Public Access PC Labs/
Community Technology
Centers

6. Computer Reuse vs. Recycling

7. Where Refurbished
Computers are Going
• Since March 2013, CFG has
produced over 2,000
refurbished computers.
• Most went to neighborhoods
where just 1 in 5 households
owned computers
• $75 desktops, $150 laptops

8. Free Digital Life Skills Classes
 Email use
 Search engine use
 Health/medical info
 Government services
 Job applications
 Social networking
 Video watch/download
 Online shopping
 Banking online
 Online Learning

9. Who Did We Reach with Free Classes?
2014: 2,106 students in
244 sessions at ten sites
25% never used a PC
75% over 50 years old
80% minorities
75% income <$20,000 yr.
2/3 women
1/2 child in their homes

10. Community Technology Centers
Partnership with Kansas
City Kansas Housing
Authority provides 20-seat
public access computer
center open daily with free
classes
Goal: anchor centers
throughout the city

11. Wireless Connectivity at Public Housing
Wi-Fi mesh
networks bring
free in-home
Internet to 500
families at three
public housing
and Section 8
facilities.

12. Opportunity of Multi-family Properties
78% of low income
families in multi-family
subsidized housing
Free Internet access for
them is yields the highest
impact
Must include training and
affordable computers