Public Meeting, Digital Divide Summit

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

[Docket No. 991101293-9293-01]

Public Meeting, Digital Divide Summit

AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration,

Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Commerce, William M. Daley, will host a

Digital Divide Summit, focused on expanding access to new technologies

for underserved populations and areas. Secretary Daley will lead the

dialogue among participants from the U.S. Government, technology

industry, civil rights and non-profit communities, grass-roots

community organizations, and the general public.

DATES: The Digital Divide Summit will be held on December 9, 1999 from

8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The Digital Divide Summit will be held at the U.S.

Department of Commerce, Main Auditorium, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW,

Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Joyner, National

Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of

Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room 4713, Washington, D.C.

20230; telephone (202) 482-1816; facsimile (202) 501-8013; or

electronic mail [email protected]>.

MEDIA INQUIRIES: Please contact the Office of Public Affairs, U.S.

Department of Commerce, at (202) 482-7002.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Information tools, such as the personal

computer and the Internet, are increasingly critical to economic

success and personal advancement. On July 8, 1999, the National

Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued a

report, Falling Through the Net: Defining the Digital Divide, that

found a growing gap between those with access to these tools and those

without. As information technology plays an ever-increasing role in

Americans' economic and social lives, the prospect that some will be

left behind in the information age can have

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serious repercussions. The digital divide threatens to impede the

health of our communities, development of a skilled workforce, and the

economic welfare of our nation.

On December 9, 1999, the Secretary of Commerce, William M. Daley,

will host a Digital Divide Summit, focused on expanding access to

information technologies for underserved populations and areas.

Secretary Daley will lead the dialogue among participants from the U.S.

Government, technology industry, civil rights and non-profit

communities, grass-roots community organizations, and the general

public. The participants will examine existing public and private

initiatives aimed at closing the technology gap and will discuss how to

expand upon and coordinate these efforts. Closing the digital divide is

an essential part of President Clinton's New Markets Initiative, which

seeks to bring America's prosperity to economically underserved areas.

The Digital Summit will be held at the Department of Commerce and

will include an address by Secretary Daley; a roundtable discussion

with representatives from the public and private sectors; and six

breakout sessions. The topics of these smaller sessions include

Technology and Economic Development in Underserved Areas; Sustainable

Public Access Points; Lowering Barriers to Access through New Product

Development; Marketing to and Content for Underserved Populations;

Rural Communities--Targeted Solutions; and Workforce Development--

Training and Education.

Agenda:

7:30-8:30 a.m. Registration, Lobby

8:30-9:50 a.m. Breakout Sessions, Various Rooms

9:50-10:00 a.m. Break

10:15-10:30 a.m. Secretary Daley, Remarks, Main Auditorium

10:30-12:30 a.m. Roundtable, Audience Questions, Main Auditorium

12:30-12:40 p.m. Secretary Daley, Closing, Main Auditorium

The agenda is subject to change. For current agenda information, please

see the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's

website at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/digitaldivide/summit/.

Public Participation: The Digital Divide Summit is open to the

public and physically accessible to people with disabilities. To enter

the Commerce Department building, you must have photo identification

available and/or a U.S. Government building pass if applicable. To

facilitate entry, you should also bring your registration form with

you, if available. Any member of the public wishing to attend and

requiring special services, such as sign language interpretation or

other ancillary aids, should contact Sarah Maloney, NTIA, U.S.

Department of Commerce, at least five (5) working days prior to the

Summit, at either telephone number (202) 482-1835 or electronic mail at

[email protected]>.

Registration: Information about paper and electronic registration

for the Digital Divide Summit will be available on the National

Telecommunications and Information Administration website at http://

www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/digitaldivide/summit/. Or contact Jeffrey

Joyner, NTIA, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue,

N.W., Room 4713, Washington, D.C. 20230; telephone (202) 482-1816;

facsimile (202) 501-8013; or electronic mail

[email protected]>. Please indicate on the registration form

which breakout session you wish to attend. In addition, space is

provided at the end of the registration material if you would like to

share a description of activities you are undertaking on ideas you have

to address the digital divide. You can also raise questions or concerns

that relate to the topic. We will collect and distribute these ideas

and questions to Summit participants.

National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

Kathy D. Smith,

Acting Chief Counsel,

[FR Doc. 99-29028 Filed 11-4-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-60-P