In June 2010, Laura Efurd addressed the FCC Advisory Committee on Diversity for Communications in the Digital Age. On behalf of ZeroDivide, Ms. Efurd presented recommendations to the FCC regarding policies and practices that will further enhance the ability of minorities and women to participate in telecommunications and related industries.

1. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and
Broadband
FCC Diversity Council
Laura L. Efurd, ZeroDivide
June 15, 2010

2. 16.6 Million Asian Americans: 5.4% of US Pop
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3. AAPI Demographics
• AAPIs represent over 30 countries and ethnic groups that
speak over 100 different languages.
• Nearly two-thirds of AAPIs are foreign born.
• AAPIs are one of the fastest growing racial groups in the
US, constituting about one-third of the one million legal
immigrants who enter the U.S.
• By 2050 the AAPI population is expected to increase to
40.6 million (9.2% of the US Population).
• Asian Americans living below poverty: 12.6%
• Poverty rates of Hmong: 37.8%, 29.3%, Laotian: 18.5%,
Vietnamese: 16.6%
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4. Cities with Highest Percentage of Asian Americans
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5. The AAPI Data Dilemma
Lack of
Data
Diverse Small
Misleading
Data
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6. Lack of Data: AAPIs Rarely Included in Tech
Related Research
Recent Pew Internet Studies that make no mention of
Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders
• March 2010 Pew Presentation Teens and the Internet the
Future of Digital Diversity
• Jan 5, 2010 Internet, Broadband and Cell Phone Statistics
• 2009 Pew Study On Wireless Internet
• March 2009, Pew Study The Mobile Difference
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7. Lack of Data: FCC Study
Broadband Adoption and Use in America OBI Working
Paper No. 1 February 2010
The FCC survey sampled all Americans, but for several racial
or ethnic categories, there were not enough respondents to
draw statistically reliable inferences. For Asian-Americans,
American Indians, and Alaskan natives, the sample yielded
fewer than 100 respondents in each group. The first two
groups in particular have a sizable population that may not
speak English or that have low telephone penetration rates.
Because of that and the small sample of respondents, it is
inadvisable to report results.
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8. Misleading Data
Digital Nation: NTIA Research Preview
8

9. Misleading Data
Californians with Broadband at Home
Public Policy Institute of California, June 2009
9

10. “To improve the state of the digital divide, we
need to understand its
social, cultural, economic and demographic
underpinnings.”
-- In Search of Digital Equity:
Assessing the Geography of
the Digital Divide in California
Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Institute of Public
Affairs
California State University, Los
Angeles
10

11. Barriers to Broadband Adoption
• Access
• Affordability
• Relevancy
• Content/Applications
• Language
• Training and technical support
• Privacy and security concerns
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12. What works!
•Targeted Approach
•Relevant Content and Applications
•Trusted Community Institutions
•Part of an Ecosystem
•Sustainability
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13. Survey of AAPI Serving CBOs (2004)
• 57% have no computer access for clients
• 7% have one or two dedicated computers of clients
• 31% lack high-speed internet access
• 1% utilize distance learning
• Primary mode of communication still face-to-face
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14. Community Technology Adoption
Continuum
Little Tokyo Service Center
Basic Content
Infrastructure Sustainable
Technology Production
2002
2005
2000 Digital 2008
Little Tokyo
Bilingual Media Internet
Community
Computer Production Service
Wireless
Center for 2004 Provider
Network
Seniors DSI
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15. 15

16. 16

17. Little Tokyo Unplugged
•Wireless broadband in Little Tokyo and
surrounding area of Los Angeles
•Free outdoor wireless
•158 homes with broadband
•176 Daily Users
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18. Filipino Advocates for Justice
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19. Activating AAPI Broadband Users
• Increased outreach from several hundred to
300,000+
• Increased policy impact from local to national
• Incorporated social media strategies
• Tapped youth for fresh content (YouTube & Blogs)
• Increased active online users
• Targeting outreach most effective
• Evaluating impact easier through analytic tools
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20. Recommendations
• Conduct studies which disaggregate AAPI populations to
attain accurate state of Broadband Adoption.
• Conduct studies which include sample in AAPI languages.
• Support adoption programs targeted to specific AAPI
populations:
– Immigrant
– Limited English Proficient
– Specific subpopulations
• Invest in technology capacity of organizations serving the
AAPI populations.
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21. Laura@ZeroDivide.org
www.ZeroDivide.org