FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 19, 2009 |
CONTACT: Raquel Ortiz 202-263-2580 |
National Broadband Resource Center Launches With Goal of Increasing Broadband Adoption
Washington, D.C. (November 19, 2009) – The Alliance for Public Technology re-launched today as the National Broadband Resource Center (NBRC) refocusing its mission on fostering broadband adoption and innovation. The new mission will allow NBRC to address a major gap in national policy – promoting broadband awareness, adoption and innovation among non-profits, small government agencies and vulnerable populations such as low-income, rural, minority, older adults and those with disabilities.
"When APT was founded twenty years ago we were the leader in the call for universal, affordable access to high quality, high speed broadband networks and services. Partially as a result of our efforts, this goal is now widely shared," stated NBRC President Kenneth Peres. "With our goal now becoming part of a national agenda, APT is refocusing its efforts on an initiative promoting broadband awareness and adoption.
The NBRC will educate and connect organizations and institutions with resources and will serve as a facilitator of innovative, relevant broadband applications. Working with its key partners, who represent the entire spectrum of consumer constituencies, NBRC will also provide human hyperlinks for expert advice on model programs and effective strategies to overcome adoption barriers.
"The NBRC, drawing upon the distinguished history of the Alliance for Public Technology in bringing together organizations with a commitment to using technology to improve the lives of their constituencies, is the ideal group to fill this need" said Communications Workers of America President Larry Cohen. "CWA wholeheartedly endorses the NBRC's efforts to foster adoption of broadband enabled services to improve the lives of all people, especially those in low-income and marginalized communities."
Dr. Max Stachura, Director of the Center for Telehealth at Medical College of Georgia and a former APT President added, "APT's twenty years of experience working to ensure that high-speed broadband networks and services are available to all Americans bodes well for the NBRC being a resource and connecting point for academics, non-profits, industry and government agencies as well as a catalyst for the development of innovative and affordable services."
For more information, please visit www.thebroadbandresourcecenter.org.
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About the National Broadband Resource Center (NBRC)
The National Broadband Resource Center is a non-profit collaboration of organizations representing a broad range of constituencies dedicated to promoting broadband adoption.