ALPHARETTA, Ga., Nov. 21, 2005 — Civitium, LLC, the market-leading consulting firm for Digital Community initiatives, is launching a new suite of consulting and program management services designed to promote digital inclusion through universal and affordable broadband, computer literacy and community involvement.
As communities around the world take a more active role in their broadband future with a goal to "bridge the digital divide," many questions arise, such as:
– How can local governments define and promote a Digital Inclusion Policy?
– Will universally-available and affordably-priced broadband services actually benefit the social and economic growth of the community?
– How can training, support and community-relevant content be combined with these next-generation broadband networks to deliver on the promise?
– What is the role of local government, and how can local government best cooperate with nonprofits and community groups to define and deliver the required programs?
– How can communities address the need to foster education for low-income and disadvantaged residents to change the social and cultural barriers that exist?
– What funding mechanisms exist for these programs?
– How can communities align their Digital Inclusion goals with private-sector vendors and service providers?
– What new requirements exist for payment processing, provisioning and support?
"While bridging the digital divide has served as a key motivation for community broadband initiatives throughout the world, the actual mechanics for local governments, nonprofits, community groups and the private-sector to deliver tangible results are just now becoming well-understood, repeatable and scalable," stated Matt Stone, Civitium’s co-founder and Senior Partner.
Civitium’s Digital Inclusion Program Services are being developed in cooperation with the One Economy Corporation, Wireless Philadelphia and various community groups. The framework is being developed in Q4 2005 as part of the Wireless Philadelphia initiative, and will be commercially available through Civitium and its partners in Q1 2006.
"Civitium has provided crucial leadership and advice to some of the world’s most high-profile and ambitious community wireless projects. It now not only can show governments how to use wireless technology to be more efficient and economically competitive, but also can help develop programs that apply new technology and existing community assets to deliver digital opportunity to the disadvantaged," said Marshall Runkel, Director of Municipal Initiatives, for the One Economy Corporation.
About Civitium, LLC
Civitium is the market-leading consulting firm for municipal broadband and Digital Community initiatives. The firm has provided advisory services on strategy, policy, business planning, RFP development, stakeholder assessment and technology issues for many of the largest municipal projects in the U.S.
About One Economy Corporation
One Economy is a national non-profit organization created to be a catalyst for innovation and change. One Economy helps bring access to technology into the homes of low-income people around the country and uses that technology to connect low-income people to information and tools they can use to build assets and improve their lives.
CONTACT:
Matt Stone
Civitium, LLC
(478) 447-2944
