| Alliance for Community Media: President’s Message Mike Wassenaar |
| On the heels of passage of the American Rescue Plan – Representative James Clyburn and Senator Amy Klobuchar have introduced a federal bill to radically expand broadband and broadband education. The bill, the Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act (HR 1783 https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1783) will probably be considered part of Infrastructure legislations in coming months. Significantly, it includes on-going federal support for digital literacy education. What’s “digital literacy”? Here’s the definition in the bill:…the skills associated with using technology to enable users to find, evaluate, organize, create, and communicate information. Is this what your organization does and do you actually talk about your work this way? My suspicion is for many ACM members, it is…we just don’t self-identify as digital literacy educators, or have a way to talk about digital education in our mission and strategy. As the Federal government and states prioritize digital education and expression – and solidify funding streams to support it, I would strongly urge you to consider what role it plays in your work. |
Michigan Alliance for Community Media 