• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Electrical Engineering News and Products

Electronics Engineering Resources, Articles, Forums, Tear Down Videos and Technical Electronics How-To's

  • Products / Components
    • Analog ICs
    • Battery Power
    • Connectors
    • Microcontrollers
    • Power Electronics
    • Sensors
    • Test and Measurement
    • Wire / Cable
  • Applications
    • 5G
    • Automotive/Transportation
    • EV Engineering
    • Industrial
    • IoT
    • Medical
    • Telecommunications
    • Wearables
    • Wireless
  • Learn
    • eBooks / Handbooks
    • EE Training Days
    • Tutorials
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Webinars & Digital Events
  • Resources
    • White Papers
    • Design Guide Library
    • Digital Issues
    • Engineering Diversity & Inclusion
    • LEAP Awards
    • Podcasts
    • DesignFast
  • Videos
    • EE Videos and Interviews
    • Teardown Videos
  • EE Forums
    • EDABoard.com
    • Electro-Tech-Online.com
  • Bill’s Blogs
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

NCTA offers ‘Adoption Plus’ plan to leap digital divide

December 1, 2009 By Brian Santo

The National Cable & Telecommunications Association is proposing a program – “Adoption Plus” or “A+” – designed to bring broadband access to students in need. The idea is to have the federal government fund computer literacy programs for qualifying middle school children; discounted computers would then be made available to these students, and if those two conditions were met, participating cable operators would offer entry-tier broadband service at a 50 percent discount.

Middle school students would qualify to participate if they were also participating in the school lunch program. There are about 3.5 million children in those grade levels in that program.

NCTA CEO Kyle McSlarrow said that if most students who qualify were to participate in such a program (not all live in the footprints of NCTA members), the cable participants’ estimated contribution would be about $572 million.

The plan, still firmly in the proposal stage, says federal funding would have to be available for literacy programs and suggests that federal funding would be useful to reduce the discount on computers. McSlarrow said the NCTA is proposing its members would ask for no federal funding to help subsidize cable’s contribution.

While the Adoption Plus proposal is coming from the NCTA, McSlarrow said other ISPs, including AT&T and Verizon, have been invited to consider participating in the program.

There are no obvious funding sources other than the broadband stimulus program, McSlarrow noted. If all stakeholders – cable and other ISPs, the PC industry, the government, etc. – were to come together on developing this A+ plan, it could conceivably be funded as early as the fall of 2010, in time for the second round of stimulus funding.

The initial proposal suggests that if adopted, the plan be instituted for two years and renewed only if the government determines that it is indeed effective, McSlarrow explained. 

The A+ proposal is based on a successful pilot program conducted by Cox Communications in Santa Barbara, Calif.

Additional details are available on the NCTA’s blog.

The NCTA developed the proposal in consultation with the FCC. The FCC’s Blair Levin said of the proposal, and of the NCTA’s role in developing it: “A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step, and you’ve taken several steps.”

Levin said that he and FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski offered their gratitude and profound thanks to the NCTA for offering the proposal.

More Broadband Direct 12/01/09:
•  NCTA offers ‘Adoption Plus’ plan to leap digital divide
•  Reports: GE, Vivendi work on deal while Comcast waits
•  Clearwire enters promised lands
•  Report: Google in talks to bring pay TV to YouTube
•  Suddenlink names Fox SVP, chief accounting officer
•  Forum: WiMAX dominates broadband grants
•  NTIA gives broadband grants to 6 more states
•  Broadcom to pay $178M for Dune Networks
•  Sprint to stop selling certain push-to-talk phones
•  Broadband Briefs for 12/01/09

 

You Might Also Like

Filed Under: Wire and Cable Tips

Primary Sidebar

EE Engineering Training Days

engineering

Featured Contributions

Five challenges for developing next-generation ADAS and autonomous vehicles

Robust design for Variable Frequency Drives and starters

Meeting demand for hidden wearables via Schottky rectifiers

GaN reliability milestones break through the silicon ceiling

From extreme to mainstream: how industrial connectors are evolving to meet today’s harsh demands

More Featured Contributions

EE Tech Toolbox

“ee
Tech Toolbox: 5G Technology
This Tech Toolbox covers the basics of 5G technology plus a story about how engineers designed and built a prototype DSL router mostly from old cellphone parts. Download this first 5G/wired/wireless communications Tech Toolbox to learn more!

EE Learning Center

EE Learning Center
“ee
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for EE professionals.
“bills
contribute

R&D World Podcasts

R&D 100 Episode 10
See More >

Sponsored Content

Advanced Embedded Systems Debug with Jitter and Real-Time Eye Analysis

Connectors Enabling the Evolution of AR/VR/MR Devices

Award-Winning Thermal Management for 5G Designs

Making Rugged and Reliable Connections

Omron’s systematic approach to a better PCB connector

Looking for an Excellent Resource on RF & Microwave Power Measurements? Read This eBook

More Sponsored Content >>

RSS Current EDABoard.com discussions

  • Exporting sensor readings as data...
  • 21V keeps getting shorted to my UART line.
  • STC8G1K08 Clone - Anyone know tools that work
  • How to read eeprom from stc8g1k08A mcu?
  • Inconsistent Charge Termination Voltage with battery charger

RSS Current Electro-Tech-Online.com Discussions

  • using a RTC in SF basic
  • Is AI making embedded software developers more productive?
  • Why can't I breadboard this oscillator?
  • Parts required for a personal project
  • Cataract Lens Options?
Search Millions of Parts from Thousands of Suppliers.

Search Now!
design fast globle

Footer

EE World Online

EE WORLD ONLINE NETWORK

  • 5G Technology World
  • Analog IC Tips
  • Battery Power Tips
  • Connector Tips
  • DesignFast
  • EDABoard Forums
  • Electro-Tech-Online Forums
  • Engineer's Garage
  • EV Engineering
  • Microcontroller Tips
  • Power Electronic Tips
  • Sensor Tips
  • Test and Measurement Tips

EE WORLD ONLINE

  • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • Teardown Videos
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us
  • About Us

Copyright © 2025 · WTWH Media LLC and its licensors. All rights reserved.
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media.

Privacy Policy