Push to narrow the digital divide

By Helen Gym

and María Quiñones-Sánchez

As Philadelphia and Comcast negotiate a new franchise agreement, we have a unique opportunity to narrow the digital divide and provide expanded digital and media opportunities to the next generation of city youths.

Across the nation, cities are using partnerships with their most successful businesses to change the game for youths. San Francisco is working with Salesforce Inc. to make a three-year, $14 million investment in improving access to technology, strengthening school curriculum, and providing 10,000 volunteer hours to city schools. New York City recently announced a 10-year plan to ensure that every student has access to computer science courses.

Philadelphia and Comcast should lead the way in education investment. Here are several ways a productive partnership can champion a new future for young people.

Invest in literacy through school libraries. In a responsibly funded district, you would see robust libraries and technology centers. In Philadelphia, many school libraries have been shuttered and librarians eliminated. Our school libraries should be bustling centers for students to engage in real literacy opportunities with modern technological resources. We need "cybrarians" - librarians trained in digital literacy. We need a serious investment to renovate, staff, and reopen libraries, especially at the elementary- and middle-school levels. In schools without libraries, we must update technology and materials. Support for this effort would be an affordable capital investment that would boost parents' and students' excitement in schools.

Invest in career and technical education. Recently, the U.S. Department of Labor recognized the Philadelphia School District for its success with a postgraduation training and apprenticeship program. We need more career and technical education to prepare students for postsecondary opportunities, and local industries, including our building trades, are supporting this effort. Comcast could help by piloting an information technology (IT) academy in several neighborhood high schools, such as Edison and South Philly High, which are often left out of innovation opportunities. Such academies could provide certification for postgraduation employment and significantly re-envision vocational education for the digital age.

Expand youth workforce development. Philadelphia has a burgeoning and vibrant technology sector, but our students need more opportunities to become part of that pipeline. In the past, Philadelphia has modeled apprenticeship and employment programs with companies as diverse as SEPTA and Boeing. We need more. Comcast currently participates in the "Work Ready" program, but it could help lead a more robust and strategic initiative. Comcast's development of an apprenticeship program - in tandem with the proposed IT academies - would offer students training, mentoring, and summer employment to more fully prepare them for the workforce.

Strengthen Internet Essentials. Comcast's Internet Essentials program, which provides low-cost service to low-income families of school-age youths, is a laudable effort, but in 2014, only 9 percent of eligible families were enrolled. Comcast must set enrollment goals, remove barriers, and partner with social service providers to expand this program's reach.

Philadelphians are proud to have a world-class company like Comcast headquartered here. We have supported the company as customers, taxpayers, and employees. Now let's ensure that this once-in-a-generation opportunity prioritizes education and ensures that our youths are prepared to thrive in the new digital economy.

Councilwoman-elect Helen Gym will be an at-large Council member. helen@helengym.com

Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez represents the Seventh District. maria.q.sanchez@phila.gov