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Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and Broadband

FCC Diversity CouncilLaura Efurd, ZeroDivide

June 15,2010

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16.6 Million Asian Americans: 5.4% of US Pop

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AAPI Demographics

• AAPIs represent over 30 countries and ethnic groups that speak over 100 different languages.

• Nearly two-thirds of AAPI’s are foreign born.

• AAPI’s 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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Cities with Highest Percentage of Asian Americans

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The AAPI Data Dilemma

DiverseDiverse SmallSmall

Lack of Data

Lack of Data

Misleading Data

Misleading Data

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AAPI’s Rarely Included in Tech Related Research

• 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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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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Digital Nation: NITA Research Preview

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Californians with Broadband at Home

Public Policy Institute of California, June 2009

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“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

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Barriers to Broadband Adoption

•Access

•Affordability

•Relevancy

•Content/Applications

•Language

•Training and technical support

•Privacy and security concerns

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What works!

•Targeted Approach

•Relevant Content and Applications

•Trusted Community Institutions

•Part of an Ecosystem

•Sustainability

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Survey of AAPI Serving CBO’s (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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Community Technology Adoption Continuum

Basic Technolog

y

Basic Technolog

y

Content Production

Content Production InfrastructureInfrastructure SustainableSustainable

Little Tokyo Service Center

2002Digital Media

Production2004DSI

2002Digital Media

Production2004DSI

2005Little Tokyo Community

Wireless Network

2005Little Tokyo Community

Wireless Network

2008 Internet Service Provider

2008 Internet Service Provider

2000 Bilingual Computer Center for Seniors

2000 Bilingual Computer Center for Seniors

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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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Filipino Advocates for Justice

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• 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

Activating AAPI Broadband Users

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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.

Laura@ZeroDivide.orgwww.ZeroDivide.org