People's Production House Releases Public Computer Center Request for Information

Written by People's Production House Tuesday, 02 February 2010 10:54

For Immediate Release – New York City – February 2, 2010 – Contact: Joshua Breitbart

Community media organization seeks $2 million in federal funds to bring broadband resources to immigrant communities and media labs into schools.

People's Production House today released a request for information (RFI) on a collaborative application to the federal Broadband Technology Opportunities Program. PPH is seeking funds totaling approximately $2 million, enough to provide $100,000 for new computer equipment and training to as many as 15 partner organizations.
If successful, the effort will expand computer centers at New York City public high schools and local community groups serving immigrants and allow them to integrate digital media into their education programs. According to the RFI, "People's Production House believes digital media production is an essential skill to use the Internet for education, civic engagement, and economic development."

"If you had a telephone that only allowed you to listen, but not speak, you would call it broken. Yet that's precisely what it's like to be online without the skills and equipment to participate actively in the multimedia conversation. We are going to make sure New York's immigrants and public school students will be heard in the 21st century," Joshua Breitbart, Policy Director for People's Production House, said.

People's Production House is seeking funds from the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), which will provide $200 million for public computer centers in schools, libraries, community centers, or other anchor institutions in all 50 states. The BTOP funds, part of the $787 billion American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009, commonly known as the stimulus package, are being distributed through two rounds of competitive grants. New York City's applications in the first round were not funded. The deadline for the second round of applications is March 15, 2010.

PPH is asking for information required for the BTOP Public Computer Center application, such as the current number of computer workstations, the type of training offered, and the experience collaborating with other organizations. Other questions ask for information specific to PPH's mission to close the gap in skills and access for new online journalists. In the explanatory text, PPH says it seeks partners who "have a strong commitment to or belief in digital media production as a core component of digital literacy."

The proposal may request additional funds for renovations or new construction where partners need to expand their facilities in order to add more computer workstations. Through direct hires and new job skills, the project expects to provide employment for hundreds of unemployed New Yorkers.

PPH will select partners from among the respondents and prepare a collaborative application for federal Public Computer Center funds. The deadline for responses to the RFI is February 19 at 5:00pm.

More information: http://bit.ly/pph_pcc_rfi


Background

The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009, commonly known as the stimulus package, authorized the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), including $200 million for public computer centers in schools, libraries, community centers, or other anchor institutions. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), a division of the Department of Commerce, is administering these funds, which are part of a larger $7.2 billion initiative to increase broadband adoption, create jobs, and enhance education, healthcare, and public safety. The remainder of the funds are for broadband infrastructure and "Sustainable Broadband Adoption." (Note: If you are interested in applying for funds in the other categories and would like to coordinate with People's Production House, please contact us for more information.)

The NTIA requested a first round of applications due August 14, 2009 and received over 2000 responses, including 365 for Public Computer Center proposals. After soliciting comments on the program, the NTIA made some modifications and issued a second request with responses due March 15, 2010. First round awards are still being announced and the precise total amount of funds available for New York City is impossible to predict, but larger, collaborative applications have a much greater chance of success. Requirements for applications are determined by statute in the Recovery Act or by policy statements included in the NTIA's Notice of Financial Availability. For more information about BTOP, see www.broadbandusa.gov.

People's Production House provides comprehensive media education to public school students, immigrants, and low-wage workers. We offer classes in media literacy, digital audio production, radio journalism, and the use of media for civic engagement. Currently a project of the Fund for the City of New York, we have served New York City residents for nearly a decade, collaborating with dozens of schools, youth organizations, community organizations, and media outlets. As part of our own staff development and with our public school partners, we train experienced educators and young people to teach the Radio Rootz curriculum. For more information about People's Production House, see www.peoplesproductionhouse.org.

People's Production House has significant experience with the current Broadband Technology Opportunities Program. We participated in a collaborative application for the first round of funding through ZeroDivide Foundation and responded to the pre-application request for information from the New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications. In partnership with  the office of Council Member Gale Brewer, PPH hosted a public forum in July 2009 for entities in New York City interested in applying for BTOP funds. PPH co-published a primer on the program with the Open Technology Initiative (OTI) of New America Foundation. OTI will provide technical assistance on our application. For more information about OTI, including guides to the program and how to apply, see www.newamerica.net/broadbandstimulus.