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Yellow Shirt Alert! California Communities
Get Their Policy On By Maricela Carlos The day's goals were to: 1) Raise participants' awareness of the need and opportunity for them to become involved in policy making; 2) Help participants to be comfortable with the idea that they are often the best advocates for their communities; and 3) Teach participants how to be strong advocates for their organizations and their communities. The day began with an informative training session that taught participants about the policy-making process and how to effectively communicate with their legislators to advocate for their issues. Some of the issues participants raised included: increasing access to technology, particularly for new and/or inexperienced users; getting funding and other resources to provide technology programs and services in their communities; and getting youth involved in using technology for job training purposes. CCTPG was also honored to have other guests in attendance, including State Senator Debra Bowen, to whom CCTPG presented an award for her legislative leadership in the area of community technology. Sen. Bowen has sponsored several community technology bills for which CCTPG played an active advocacy role. SB 1863, which was signed in to law last year, allows the utilization of a special fund, the California Teleconnect Fund (CTF), to provide discounted telecommunication services to schools, hospitals and community-based organizations. In addition, Commissioner Loretta Lynch from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) joined the day's activities. The CPUC is a state agency that regulates privately -owned telecommunication companies and, as such, is a critical player in all telecommunications policy decisions in California. Commissioner Lynch reviewed three key ways the CPUC planned to modify the CTF. According to Lynch, community-based organizations would be eligible for a 50% discount on their telecommunications expenses, the application process would be streamlined, and it will be unnecessary for users of the CTF to reapply. On a related topic, Assemblyman Marco Firebaugh spoke to the group about AB 855, which would develop a digital divide fund by taking 15% of revenue generated from leasing state-owned property to telecommunication companies.
Joel Bush from the Department of Information Technology speaking to participants.
Armed with this knowledge of the latest updates in the telecommunication policy scene, participants had the opportunity to brush up their advocacy skills as they role-played their upcoming legislative visits. Once participants got had the opportunity to practice their new skills with their assigned teams, they spent the afternoon visiting their legislators. "We visited our representative's office and he remembered us from last year…we are looking forward to delivering our message again next year" said a participant. By the end of the day, participants had visited 80 State Senators and Assembly Mmembers - over 1/3 of the State legislators - twice as many visits as last year! The community technology contingent was especially visible walking
through the State Capitol building; passersby could be overheard
commenting on the bright yellow t-shirts. At the end of the day,
the yellow shirted crews were tired but excited at the day's activities.
One participant stated, "it was nice to find there are people
actively involved in pursuing the issues of accessible technology."
While CCTPG's efforts will continue throughout the year, Sacramento
Day participants are all looking forward to Sacramento Day 2004
when they can regroup and keep advocating for equitable access to
technology so that all of our communities can take part in the digital
revolution.
Maricela Carlos is a Program
Associate at Community Partners and is an active member of CCTPG.
She can be reached at Mcarlos@CommunityPartners.org.
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