SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE TO HOLD DIGITAL DIVIDE HEARING - The effects
of the "digital divide" on minority-serving colleges and universities will be the subject of a
hearing conducted by the Senate Subcommittee on Science Technology and Space.
Witnesses from top US minority institutions as well as national minority associations
will testify at the hearing. The Internet connectivity report for 2002 indicates that more
lower-income groups gained Web access than any other income bracket for the first time
last year. The report also said that the odds of rural and urban users going online are
almost even. The subcommittee hearing is scheduled to take place on Feb. 27.
(Newsbytes, 22 Feb 02 - Edupage 25 Feb 02)

ATHABASCA OPENS CENTRE FOR INDIGENOUS EDUCATION - Alberta's
Athabasca University http://www.athabascau.ca officially opened its Centre for
Indigenous Education on January 31. The new Centre will help overcome cultural
and geographical barriers to post-secondary education for many First Nations,
Métis and Inuit people across Canada by including indigenous advisors in its planning,
development and delivery processes and by offering courses through distance education
and in offsite locations. Athabasca already offers many courses in relevant disciplines
such as Native Studies, Cree Language, Anthropology and History, and the launch of
the new centre indicates a commitment to expanding learning opportunities in these
and other areas. For more information, see: http://www.athabascau.ca/media/yolngu.html
(NETWORKING 6:2, 6 Feb 02)

IS DIGITAL DIVIDE PROGRAM AT RISK? - Under President Bush's 2003 budget,
two grant programs that focus on assisting the poor in taking advantage of technology
would be slashed. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA) would instead use funding for national defense and other national crisis priorities.
In addition, the Department of Education's Community Technology Centers program is
facing dissolution because, according to the administration, it has limited effect. Further,
the budget proposal also calls for a 45% reduction in high-tech research grants to
corporations and universities. (Washington Post, 5 Feb 02 )

U.N. LOOKS TO NARROW TECH GAP - The United Nations Development
Program (UNDP) and the Markle Foundation announced a project to provide
consultation to developing nations that seek to fortify their IT infrastructure and
improve their educational systems, health care and business development using
state-of-the-art technology. UNDP-Markle teams will be sent to Bolivia, Mozambique,
Tanzania and nine other countries, while technology companies such as Sun
Microsystems and organizations such as the Harvard Center for International
Development will contribute hardware and personnel. An initial investment of $10
million has been earmarked for the two-year Global Digital Opportunity Initiative, as
the UNDP-Markle project is called. To qualify for assistance, applying countries must
have a political climate favorable to the project and support the deregulation of a
national telecommunications monopoly. (Associated Press, 5 Feb 02)