CLA Weblog Submissions
To navigate our archives, please click on a category to the left. Do you have information that would be of interest to the library community? Please send your weblog submissions to the CLA office at rberta@cla-net.org.
Testimony Before the PUC Concerning Federal Stimulus Funds for Broadband in CA
Submitted to the Public Utilities Commission of the State of California
March 22, 2009
San Francisco
In the Matter of Maximizing the Benefit of Federal Stimulus Funds
For Broadband in California
COMMENTS OF THE CALIFORNIA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
The California Library Association (CLA), a 501c3 non profit organization representing the community and more than 3,000 personal, organizational and business members, strongly urges the Commission to consider the crucial role that libraries play in providing California residents with access to Internet connectivity.
More than 70 percent of those who use library computers say it's their primary source for connecting to the Internet. Yet revenues at one-third of public libraries are shrinking. As a result, staff members receive less training in computer skills, people wait to use outdated computers, and slow Internet connections can't handle streaming video.
Libraries fill a crucial role in providing the general public with access to Internet connectivity. Ninety-six percent (96%) of California's public libraries offer the public access to the Internet - this is particularly important in areas where broadband is not widely deployed or for segments of the population who cannot obtain or afford high-speed access; however, a large percent of those libraries don't have sufficient bandwidth for their communities' needs.
Public libraries always have been, and continue to be, important centers of educational and economic opportunity for the public, and often provide access to computers and broadband Internet services that are otherwise unavailable to several sectors of our society; increasing their capacity to provide these services will ensure service to critical underserved Californians.
The Internet has transformed the manner in which individuals, businesses and government interact with one another. In this highly interconnected world, California's economic and educational competitiveness is challenged as never before. Public libraries play an important role within their communities by helping the public adapt to this new technologically sophisticated environment.
The advent of broadband communications has enhanced the value of public libraries to the California residents and has increased libraries' roles as centers for learning and community activity. The public relies upon its local public libraries as their primary source of public broadband connectivity. As the economic crisis in the U.S. deepens, visits to public libraries are up across the country. Many libraries in states across the country are reporting that online services are in high demand, especially for job seekers, students, and people who do not have Internet access elsewhere.
For instance:
- As local, state and federal governments are increasing reliance on e-government, the public depends on their local public library to access and properly use government information and government services on the Internet.
- Libraries are central institutions within their communities and serve critical roles as disaster response facilities, as we saw evidenced after disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and last year's fires in Southern California.
- Students use the public libraries' Internet services to complete homework assignments, download informational videos or course lectures, access scholarly journals, attend distance learning classes and collaborate with others on joint research projects.
- California farmers and other key figures in the rural economies rely on Internet connectivity from their local public library to acquire agricultural information and many other purposes.
- To allow rural communities to survive in these areas of low connectivity, libraries often provide economical and free to the public Internet access.
- Low-income people use public libraries to acquire information and apply for jobs, food stamps and other public assistance programs.
- Senior citizens find public libraries to be of enormous assistance in acquiring information on health issues, government programs and maintaining connections with family and friends who live far away.
Members of the public often have no other access to a computer, much less broadband connectivity. Owning a computer and keeping up with the technical and financial responsibilities of maintaining an Internet connection in the home may be overwhelming for the young, the elderly or those who have no technological experience. California public libraries offer the opportunity for consumers to walk into a library, sit down at a computer and immediately begin using the Internet without having to worry about acquiring a computer, subscribing to an Internet connection, connecting their computer to that connection and keeping up with the software changes that occur on a regular basis. When the public library takes care of these responsibilities on behalf of the consumer, it provides an enormous benefit to the community. According to one study, individuals with lower annual income (below $15,000) are more likely to rely upon usage of a computer at a library then people with higher levels of income (greater than $75,000).
You'll be pleased to hear that California libraries are part of a new $7 million initiative of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a pilot program that will support improved Internet connections for public libraries in seven states. As Jill Nishi, deputy director of U.S. Libraries at the Gates Foundation. "Public libraries across the country have played an integral role in closing the digital divide for millions of Americans, but local governments, communities, and library supporters must do more to ensure libraries can continue to provide fast, reliable Internet service for communities."
As essential providers of connectivity, particularly to vulnerable populations and those in underserved areas, the California Library Association urges Commission to remember the importance of libraries as they engage in the effort to maximize the benefits of the federal stimulus funds. You have a remarkable opportunity to make a difference. Libraries can help you reach Californians in every community.
Thank you for listening to our concerns.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah Doyle
California Library Association
717 20th Street, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95811
916.447.8541 tel | 916.447.8394 fax | info@cla-net.org
Posted on March 23, 2009 10:29 AM | Permalink