Today’s Good News: Chicago “Makes No Little Digital Plans”
On Friday, June 15, an advisory committee to Chicago Mayor Richard Daley released a report called “The City That Networks.” The report advised going beyond municipal wi-fi to pursue a broader vision of “digital excellence.”The plan suggests not only extending wireless Internet connectivity to underprivileged neighborhoods, but also helping poorer residents get subsidized computers, get needed instruction and making digital communications an integral part of community activities.
Unmentioned in the news coverage, as usual, was the grassroots organizing that made these recommendations happen. The Chicago Digital Access Alliance (CDAA) and my friend Michael Maranda have worked tirelessly to unite people across the city and get them to voice their feelings to the city administration. Congratulations to them on their success thus far. Chicago is already 3rd in the country in wi-fi hotspots. If anything like this plan gets implemented, Chicago may win the crown of the city most aggressively closing the digital divide and spreading the benefits of technology growth across society.
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