On Monday August 3rd 2020 the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Media Bureau and the Digital Empowerment and Inclusion Working Group of the Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment (ACDDE) hosted a Virtual Workshop – The Role of Libraries in Advancing Broadband Adoption And Literacy. The workshop featured experts from libraries, academia, and civil society organizations who discussed efforts to support underserved rural and urban communities’ acquisition of digital skills. Experts considered what constitutes digital inclusion today and the role of libraries and public-private partnerships in supporting digital literacy. Panelists also addressed the impact of COVID-19 on advancing digital inclusion, as well as the impact of various local, state, and federal interventions in recent months.
Introduction & Welcome
Anna M. Gomez, Partner, Wiley Rein LLP Representing Hispanic National Bar Association Chair, Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment
Rudy Brioché, Vice President and Counsel, Global Public Policy, Comcast Corporation Chair, Digital Empowerment and Inclusion Working Group
Panel 1: Local Libraries and State Library Association Perspectives
Marian Christmon, Manager, Digital Inclusion Initiatives, Nashville Public Library
Misty Hawkins, Director, Arkansas River Valley Regional Library System
Richard Reyes-Gavilan, Executive Director, Washington DC Public Library
Lisa Shaw, Rural & Small Libraries Specialist/Workforce Development Specialist, Maine State Library
Nicole Umayam, Digital Inclusion Library Consultant, Arizona State Library
Moderators:
Harin J. Contractor, Consultant, Workforce Policy, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
Marijke Visser, Senior Policy Advocate, Policy and Advocacy Office, American Library Association
Panel 2: Libraries and Community Partnerships
Broderick Johnson, Senior of Counsel, Covington and Burling, LLP, Chair, My Brother’s Keeper Alliance
Cyndee Landrum, Deputy Director for Library Services, Institute of Museum and Library Services
Jillian Luchner, Policy Manager, Afterschool Alliance
Emily Ong, Senior Manager, Community Partnerships and Outreach, Girls Who Code
Jose Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO Hispanic Heritage Foundation
Katherine Trujillo, Director of Education/Deputy Director, Libraries Without Borders
Moderators:
Laura Berrocal, Senior Director, Policy and External Affairs, Charter Communications
Felicia West, Policy Advisor for the District of Columbia Public Service Commission
Respondent
Sindy Benavides, CEO, League of United Latin American Citizens
Closing Remarks
Roy E. Litland, Associate General Counsel, Federal Regulatory Affairs, Verizon
Shellie Blakeney, Director, Federal Regulatory Affairs, T-Mobile USA
Jamila Bess Johnson, Designated Federal Officer, Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment
VIDEO https://livestream.com/internetsociety/fcc-libraries
TWITTER @FCC libraries #ConnectedNation
SIMULCASTS
https://www.pscp.tv/ISOC_Live/1mnxelYnVzRJX
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/699112562
ARCHIVE
https://archive.org/details/fcc-libraries
On January 23 2025, the Gigabit Libraries Network ‘Libraries in Response’ 116th session ‘Internet 2025 with Vint Cerf’ featured returning guests Vint Cerf, speaking on How to “build resilient communities enabled by digital infrastructure and eco-systems, informed by local priorities and goals”, and Richard Whitt, expanding on his ideas for using AI to build trust into the internet.
