Recently, the Chicago Digital Access Alliance (CDAA) issued a platform espousing 10 Principles for Digital Excellence. I’m proud to be a co-author of that statement.
Here are the headlines of the 10 Principles, I’ll offer discussion of each of them as the CDAA Campaign for a Community Benefits Agreement progresses.
1. DIGITAL EXCELLENCE IS AN INSTITUTIONALLY FUNDED PRIORITY FOR CHICAGO.
2. SOUND PLANNING, EVALUATION AND POLICY MEASURES ARE CRITICAL TO DIGITAL DIVIDE EVALUATION AND DIGITAL EXCELLENCE IMPACT.
3. UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO HIGH-SPEED CONNECTIVITY IS A PUBLIC RIGHT AND NECESSITY.
4. DIGITAL LITERACY AND FLUENCY ARE FORMS OF HUMAN CAPITAL AND REQUIRE PUBLIC INVESTMENT.
5. LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE IS NECESSARY FOR COMMUNITY-DRIVEN CONTENT DEVELOPMENT.
6. HARDWARE TOOLS MUST BE AVAILABLE TO ALL.
7. ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE BEST PRACTICES AND INNOVATIONS IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF ALL NEIGHBORHOODS.
8. OUR FREEDOM TO CONNECT DEMANDS NETWORK NEUTRALITY AND ACTIVE MONITORING FOR EQUITABLE SERVICE.
9. THE GLOBAL ECONOMY WORKS FOR EVERYONE: ASSURE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND FIRST SOURCE HIRING.
10. IN STRONG NEIGHBORHOOD ECONOMIES, ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESSES THRIVE.
We drafted these principles under a frame of “Digital Excellence”, and have been working hard at moving the discourse from Inclusion to Excellence even as the term Digital Inclusion buzzes from PR-mouthpieces of the purveyors of Networks and the Politicians now showing their concern for bridging the digital divide after these many years. We want to set a higher bar. If Inclusion can be a way station en route to Excellence, we will be better off, but we need to be clear on where we want to go.
I have felt that community and technology advocates were ready to take up the phrase Digital Inclusion largely because we’ve been neglected in the trenches for so long, that we just were ecstatic at being listened to at all.
If we are being listened to, finally, let’s talk about the society we want, and about technology only in so far as it can be in service to us achieving that society. So, an inclusive society is certainly one I want to be a part of, but, let’s strive for excellence all around.
With Digital Inclusion there is danger of leaving our aim too low, and shooting ourselves in the feet. If they are listening now to community experts with experience in Digital Literacy, Access and Equity, let’s tell them where we really need to go.
We can’t settle for digital inclusion as a charity model. We’re investing alongside others in our community, in our common future. We won’t settle for a handout of a little hardware, a little connectivity, and maybe a little money to run some programs and put some sites up. We’re not going to smile, say thanks, and go away quietly. We have work to do.
