Sunday Nov 22
Digital Expansion Initiative

The Digital Expansion Initiative promotes meaningful Internet access for New Yorkers through research, education, and organizing.

 

Play Activities: Founded in 2007, DEI uses participant-led research, media production, public education, and community organizing to expand meaningful Internet access to all New Yorkers. DEI members are interviewing people in their community who have limited access to the Internet while working with high school students to investigate existing infrastructure and policies in New York City. In addition to defining the problem, the research doubles as base-building for a forthcoming community organizing campaign to erase the digital divides in our community

Partnerships: DEI partners with 5-7 social change organizations, 3 research institutions, and one high school

Written by Sidra K Wednesday, 15 July 2009 15:53
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Last week the Digital Expansion Fellows explored some of the key concepts in an interview we conducted with Laura Forlano. After listening and editing we shortened the interview to a 4 minute piece consisting of the following key points:

The interview starts with Laura discussing how the language of "Anytime, Anywhere" encourages people to communicate through mobile technology. Laura explains how advances in technology allows people to do things in new ways. These new trends have also permitted people to spend more time on the move, and makes it easier to access their friends and family through their mobile phones essentially carrying our friends and family in our pockets.

Read more: Digtal Expansion Fellows Speak to Laura Forlano

Written by Joshua Breitbart Wednesday, 08 July 2009 16:00
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Creating open data standards is key to helping People's Production House fulfill our mission of public participation in journalism. As a reformed blogger myself, I can tell you that access to government documents in a timely manner and in a useful format makes it much easier to do solid local reporting. That is true whether you are an unpaid citizen journalist or a professional beat reporter for a local daily...

People’s Production House spurs broadband adoption by showing people how they can use the Internet to build community and improve their lives, especially through digital media production. This bill supports that strategy and we believe it would stimulate demand for broadband in our city.  Policymakers now widely understand that compelling content is key to increasing broadband adoption, but some still approach it as if they were adding more channels to the TV. The Internet is a two-way medium; the power comes not merely from the ability to find what you want, but from the ability to shape what you find.  Having open data standards makes that possible.  The bill paves the way for what the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) referred to as “value demonstration” in its recent request for information on broadband adoption programs.

Click through for complete testimony.


Read more: Testimony on Intro.991 Creating Open Data Standards

Written by Julia Paul Wednesday, 01 July 2009 17:11
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On June 12th, the US switched from analogue to digital broadcasting. The switch has been hailed as a success by the Federal Communication Commissions (FCC),

but thousands of people here in NY and elsewhere across the country have been unable to watch television. CNPI reporter, Julia Paul interviewed a few New Yorkers who are having troubles with the digital transition. And Joel Kelsey, the Policy Analyst with Consumers Union, a guest on the Global Movements Urban Struggles show addresses some of the issues raised by consumers.

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Media Policy

The Internet
Mobile Internet access key to digital expansion?
Broadband Internet service is available for nearly every house in New York City, yet...
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Media Ed.
Premiere of the DEI movie!
An alien comes to New York City to discover how humans communicate and is intrigued by the crazy network of...
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Wireless Internet
White Spaces, a new way to access the Internet
Next year, television broadcasters will move to digital broadcasting....
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DTV
Still Searching for the Right DTV Converter Box...
We look at what local retailers are doing to assist or frustrate New Yorkers...
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