Maria E. Wynne is Senior Director of the Office of Economic Development and Innovation, U.S. Public Sector, for Microsoft. She is lead author of Power Up: The Campaign for Digital Inclusion, published this June. After nearly two decades at Xerox and at Ameritech, Wynne joined Microsoft four years ago. Most recently she was General Manager for the US State and Local organization. Her work on digital inclusion began in earnest last September, when her new role was approved by the Corporation.
Wynne believes that digital inclusion is best addressed at the community level, expressly by local leaders, and because, to be successful, there is a need for local leadership buy-in and partnering from private-sector and philanthropic organizations, as well as academic, nonprofit and other government entities-not necessarily a challenge best suited to be delegated to consultants or inserted into a Request for Proposals (RFP) for wireless infrastructure. Her interest is to create a blueprint around which municipalities can organize their digital-inclusion initiatives-to connect seniors and youth, ethnic minorities, and the marginalized-in a sustainable fashion.
Q: How did you determine that Microsoft could play a role in spurring US municipalities to take on digital inclusion?
A: I had been managing state and local government across the United States and found, in the executive levels of government, there were the infrastructure and IT issues that are common to running a business. But I also saw the struggle that many of our leaders had in addressing the digital divide; they were also common from one community to another. So I proposed that the Corporation create my job. I was approved to move forward with this and, gathering all my observations, began using the knowledge I had accumulated during my years of working with state and local-government leaders.
Q: What are your goals around digital inclusion at the community level?
A: I want to create a blueprint for cities to get started on digital inclusion-something that would be shared openly and would build upon the best approaches communities are developing across the United States. Municipalities should be able to arrive at a model that provides affordable access for the underserved and that is best suited for their demographic and socioeconomic state. There is at times a hope and a bit of naiveté on the part of the cities that the private-sector should shoulder the burden, but this is not necessarily a good foundation for sustainability. The challenge for cities will be to develop those models that in time can become citizen owned in order to provide long-term affordability and sustainability. Demographic inclusiveness is also part of that challenge.
Q: How do you view current efforts?
A: There are some very good focused efforts in several cities and communities addressing certain pockets of citizen needs and some very good ones addressing the needs of students. The issue, however, is that many of the existing efforts are not demographically comprehensive and not necessarily built to be sustainable over time. Some of the efforts are fragmented, start/stop initiatives dependent on small infusions of cash or funding. Some are "neighborhood" centric and are not built to scale and as a result are limited in their "portability." Over time, some of these efforts, while well meaning, will not survive. They are not designed to serve with the appropriate affordability, accessibility and relevant training modeled for a wider reaching demographic. The questions for those engaging in long-term digital inclusion planning involve looking at the demographic and socioeconomic conditions of a particular community and asking: How do we (local leaders) bring our citizens into the knowledge economy? How do we deal with the multiplicity of languages in our cities and the diversity of our people to provide relevant digital inclusion? What are the
requisite skills appropriate for each demographic to acquire?
Q: Why do you see this as an imperative right now?
A: There are several reasons. Most are tied to our future in a competitive global economy. I believe this issue is at the heart of our citizens' socioeconomic future and, as a result, our competitive standing in the global economy. Six out of ten jobs in the next few years will demand a basic level of digital literacy. In less than a decade, the impact of our aging population on industry and government will be significant. As a government preparing for the exodus of "baby boomers," I see governments doing the right thing in transitioning citizen services to e-Government-based services. You and I, who have access and can participate in e-services, are pleased. However, for those who don't, it creates a bigger divide. Now you wind up with citizens who are excluded from government services that may be vital to their ability to participate as citizens in this world of the "connected citizen" as I like to refer to it. This phenomenon will challenge policy issues and could have political impact as well. Most of all, it affects the economic opportunity for our underserved citizens to upgrade their earning potential and enjoy an improved lifestyle.
Q: How do you perceive the digital divide for seniors?
A: I've conducted some interesting roundtables, and the awareness among this population is actually hugely keen. It's not just about the basics of having computer access, but a realization that "to not have computer skills today is to be illiterate," as a senior woman in Miami stated.
There are lifestyle events seniors are experiencing that are making them want to be connected. For example, a health-insurance inquiry, or an inquiry on social security results in a senior receiving a letter referring them to a Website. I am told by seniors that this forces them to have to call their children or to go to someone who has a computer to gain access to the information it. Seniors want independence in this respect as well.
They also want to stay connected to family, keep up with news in their home countries, socialize over the Internet and stay connected socially. And there are those that recognize the entrepreneurial power of such a connection. Seniors are aware of the impact on lifestyle and services they can leverage.
Q: Microsoft is a partner with the City of Miami, and its Elevate Miami initiative was recognized at the US Conference of Mayors meeting in June.
A: Miami is a city to watch. They're in the throes of programs that are up and running, and they are aggressively moving forward. Their mayor, Manny Diaz, is very passionate about this issue. It's part of his anti-poverty effort. He is keenly aware of the impact of digital inclusion on the future generations of Miamians. He's looking at the long term, and it's tremendous. He's calling in the private sector, and his staff has done a nice job.
Q: What do like, in particular, about Miami's approach to digital inclusion?
A: Miami is remarkable in that it has taken a cradle-to-grave approach to digital inclusion. It is among the poorest cities in the nation, and the demographics there are challenging by any measure. Some 28% of households are below the poverty level. But they've laid out this cradle-to-grave cycle as a rite of passage: what you, as a citizen, should be passing through in the world of digital literacy.
They have built stages in this passing with some incentives. For example, in the sixth grade, a child that passes certain educational/training requirements will be awarded a computer to take home. Some of that training will
teach the child life skills as well. So you're taking that child and you are beginning to make him or her aware of financial responsibility, for example. High-school students are assured of having an internship to acquire work skills. The e-Parks after-school program for kids provides programs, and a parent academy provides training for parents as well. Discount vouchers as a reward for training are part of the affordability model.
Q: How does the City make this work?
A: Miami has strong partnerships with the private sector, foundations, and the community technology organizations, and it has done a great job of forging government-to-government relationships with the county and the school system. This is something that other cities can emulate. It takes work and a change of mindset, but intergovernmental and public-sector partnerships can be as powerful as those with the private sector. Miami's partnership with its school system and with Miami Dade County allows them to take their approach into the schools and senior centers. The program for seniors is called e-Seniors, and they are leveraging digital-literacy curriculum, which we provided. They have versioned it for relevance for seniors and are making it available in two languages today (English-Spanish). They're also extending this to small business. Microsoft has a number of things we just give, such Accounting Express 2007, which is a package for a small-business entrepreneur.
Q: What do cities need to do to jumpstart their digital inclusion initiatives?
A: Take an inventory of where they stand today. Prioritize where they want to get started, think broadly in terms of inclusion and stage the approach. Build a strong taskforce with community and intergovernmental stakeholders and think in terms of longevity and sustainability. Then look at grants and funding to help the startup process. To harness the buying power, or the giving power, of those in the private sector, or those in philanthropy, cities must identify funding and create a 501(c)3 to be able to accept funds. We can't give to government. We have to encourage government to create well-thought-out charities that are focused sustainable digital inclusion. Then look at grants available though government (federal and state) and leverage those as well. Ultimately, however, you want to build a citizen-owned model that can hold up over time.
Q: It seems that broader national policies could help here.
A: The policy landscape will likely change as issues related to digital inclusion arise. There are going to be pressures to reallocate funds and budgeting, as we look at what government can do to remain equitable and neutral to all citizens through digital access and digital inclusion. It will no doubt, demand that we think in innovative ways on how to tackle this issue.
Founded in 2002, the Wireless Internet Institute (W2i), LLC, is an independent forum bringing together stakeholders around the world to accelerate the adoption of wireless Internet in support of social and economic development and better managed cities, communities and regions. For more information see www.w2i.org.
