Digital Inclusion

As recently as last year, more than two-thirds of the area in Washtenaw County did not have access to high speed Internet connections – an alarming circumstance in one of Michigan’s most prominent counties which hosts two of the finest state universities in the nation.

Wireless Washtenaw, the private-public collaborative that seeks to blanket the entire 720 square miles of Washtenaw County with high speed wireless Internet access, has begun the process of healing its “Digital Divide” by assembling a Task Force to design and implement programs that will enhance computer accessibility and availability within the county.

“’Wireless Washtenaw’” and its mission to extend Internet capacity with high speed access throughout the County was the crucial first step – but it is just one step in bringing the bounty of technology to every resident, every home and every institution in our community,” said Derrick Jackson, Chair of the Task Force and Washtenaw County’s Director of Elections. “This Task Force will set an agenda that builds on that access to help assure affordable computers are available and that residents can receive the appropriate skills and knowledge to safely use this technology.”

Numerous services continue to migrate “online” and require a computer savvy population to access and use them. The Task Force is charged with developing a strategic plan that will incorporate programs designed to bring the offline community online.

The Task Force is in the process of developing a series of programs which will be piloted in April/May of 2008. More details will be announced once the pilots are launched.