New CTCNet/Forum Telecom Policy RFP

[Doug Schuler]

FYI...


Date: Thu, 05 Aug 1999 15:47:42 -0500
From: Peter Miller <peterm at ctcnet.org>
Subject: New CTCNet/Forum Telecom Policy RFP

For immediate release and distribution
--------------------------------------

   CTCNet and the Civil Rights Forum to Distribute $70,000
         to Rural Community Technology Centers for
            Telecommunications Policy Projects

               Guidelines for Third Round
               Applicatons Due October 8, 1999

The Community Technology Centers' Network (CTCNet) and the Civil Rights
Forum on Communications Policy, as part of a grant from the Kellogg
Foundation's Managing Information with Rural America (MIRA) program, are
overseeing the distribution of $70,000 over the remainder of 1999.

This grant program seeks to support low-income and other disenfranchised
people in rural communities who have had some experience with computers
and the Internet to educate their communities and advocate
telecommunications policies that support technology equity and universal
service.  CTCNet affiliates, MIRA clusters of community teams, and other
low-income center-based education and access programs are all well
qualified to argue that funds and other kinds of support are important
in helping this constituency become involved in communications policy
decisions at the local, state, and federal levels.

These CTCNet/MIRA funds are to support involvement in telecommunications
policy decisions.  Successful applicants will receive $1,000-$5,000 for
community center-based projects involving students and participants in
rural job training or literacy programs, 4-H or Boys and Girls Clubs,
libraries, Indian councils, multi- service agencies, community cable
access centers, health centers, community networks, or other similar
efforts.

Current CTCNet rural affiliates are eligible to apply for these grants,
and rural programs not currently affiliated with CTCNet are encouraged
to join as well as apply.  Non-rural CTCNet affiliates that have a clear
rural impact and/or partner will also be considered.

Applications should describe a project on telecommunications policy in
rural communities.  A community technology center may undertake this
either as a stand-alone effort or one that is integrated with an
on-going program.  Projects may range from public policy advocacy and
grassroots organizing, to research and analysis, to efforts that build
the capacity of those who are not ordinarily involved in public policy.
The most recent Round 2 grant recipients are:

*       The National Association of Partners in Education will be
developing a curriculum and inclusive community leadership teams
involved with telecommunications policy in White River and the small
communities surrounding Vermillion, SD.

*       The South Carolina State University 1890 Extension Service will
be training youth to involve rural citizens in telecommunications policy
through forums across the state.

*       The Allegany County Public Schools in western Maryland will be
involving rural Appalachian residents in communications policy through a
fall regional conference and outreach through area technology access
centers.

Previous grant recipients include:

*       In Covington, KY, the Media Working Group for designing a
curriculum and training program for Adult Literacy students on how the
state's communications policy process works, who the players are, and
how to intervene and have a voice in the process.

*       In Las Vegas, the Rural Telecommunications Task Force for
publishing a report to catalyze its work and broaden citizen
participation with the state legislature's implementation of its
Universal Service program.

*       In Blacksburg, the Virginia Cooperative Extension and the
state's 4-H clubs for collaborating in running a summer computer camp on
the Internet as a Civic Forum.

In addition, the current issue of *The Community Technology Review* is
devoted to communications policy (http://www.ctcnet.org/review99.htm)
and offers a wide selection of projects that are suggestive.

Applications should include:
1)  a statement of the rural telecommunications policy problem to be
addressed, articulating 1-2 specific telecommunications policies to
provide focus for this work;
2)  description of the target audience to be involved;
3)  description of the project that will address this problem;
4)  expected outcomes from the project;
5)  description of organization's qualifications;
6)  description of involvement of other partners in implementing this
project; and
7)  a budget summary.

Successful applications will address:
1)  relevancy of community problem to broader rural issues in
telecommunications policy;
2)  capacity of the project to educate target audience and involve them
in communications policy activities;
3)  technical and practical feasibility of the project;
4)  effectiveness of the project in addressing the stated problem;
5)  appropriateness of the match between organization and project; and
6)  involvement with other community partners and constituents.

Award recipients will be expected to publish final reports on their Web
site within one month of the project's completion.  CTCNet will provide
space for any organization without a Web page of its own.

Applications are limited to 1,000 words to be preceded by a project
summary of no more than 100 words and may note additional material that
can be found on Web sites and elsewhere.  Applications should be
submitted electronically to ctcnet at edc.org by October 8, 1999.  Grant
recipients will be announced in late fall.

There will be two 800 # group teleconferences for those wishing
additional information, one on Thursday, September 23 at 11:00 a.m. EST,
and another on Wednesday, September 29 at 4:00 p.m. EST.  If you are
interested, please contact the program coordinator and indicate your
preference time.  For further information about these awards, see
http://www.ctcnet.org/mira or contact CTCNet public policy project
coordinator Peter Miller at peterm at ctcnet.org, 617/734-1910.

##


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