Briefs: Feds Investing in Broadband for the Deaf

The U.S. Commerce Department has given a $15 million grant to a nonprofit to increase and improve broadband adoption for the deaf and hard of hearing.

The grant to Communication Service for the Deaf Inc. (CSD) "intends to expand broadband adoption among people who are deaf and hard of hearing, and provide them with tools to more fully participate in the digital economy."

The nonprofit's Project Endeavor will deliver discounted broadband service and specialized computers: technology training from an online support center customized to the community's needs, public access to videophones at community anchor institutions across the country and a nationwide outreach initiative.

The CSD plans to add new staff who are proficient in sign language to its contact center in South Dakota and expects to train up to 200,000 people who are deaf and hard of hearing in the use of video, real-time text-based communications and other specialized broadband technologies. The project also intends to facilitate improved access to enhanced 911 public safety services by those who are deaf or hard of hearing.

The grant is coming from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Source: National Telecommunications and Information Administration

 

California to Measure Progress of IT Consolidation

Last week the Office of the State Chief Information Officer (OCIO) announced policy guidelines for state agencies to report on their progress to comply with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's executive order to consolidate IT in the state's executive branch.

Progress Report Scorecards will be posted on the OCIO website. The first report on E-Hub, the state's e-mail security and encryption service, was posted today; agencies were ordered to implement E-Hub by June 2010.

According to the OCIO, "each consolidation area contains scorecards, representing the various phases of the consolidation initiative and the progress made in implementation of the objective. Summaries and status for each agency within each consolidation area will be updated quarterly (at minimum) or when significant progress is made toward one of the [executive order] objectives."

Source: California Office of the State Chief Information Officer