In May of 2006, The Wireless Minneapolis “Digital Inclusion Task Force” (DITF) was convened by The City of Minneapolis under the direction of BIS Director William Beck.
Catherine Settanni, director of the Community Computer Access Network, coordinated Task Force efforts with the help of two outside facilitators, Clare MacDonald Sexton and Lou Anne Sexton. Twenty-nine experts in the field of community technology and technology literacy were asked to volunteer their time and expertise in the development of this report. The recommendations, analysis and suggested community benefit requirements that follow represent the collective opinion of the task force.
Task Force objectives include:
1. To articulate a vision for bridging the digital divide within the City of Minneapolis;
2. To develop strategies that address persistent barriers to technology access and literacy;
3. To recommend these strategies for inclusion in the City of Minneapolis’ “community benefits agreement,” (CBA);
4. To help identify an intermediary organization/agency/or foundation to coordinate digital inclusion efforts and manage digital inclusion funds.