Project Title:
Universidad Ana G. Mendez, Carolina Campus Broadband Digital Inclusion Project
Funding Program:
Connecting Minority Communities Program
Project Purpose/Type:
The Universidad Ana G. Mendez, Carolina Campus (UAGM-CC) Broadband Digital Inclusion Project (BDIP) is designed to address the need for digital inclusion and to address challenges the university faces in helping undergraduate students and low-income households in Puerto Rico, particularly in Carolina County.
City/Town/Service Area:
State(s):
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$1,510,941.00Funding Amount$1,510,941.00Total Project Cost0.00Non-Federal Cost Share
The Universidad Ana G. Mendez, Carolina Campus (UAGM-CC) Broadband Digital Inclusion Project (BDIP) has five components that address the need of funding for personnel, broadband networking capability, and acquisition and deployment of equipment to support connectivity for remote education. Project activities include:
- Academic research on digital inclusion, digital broadband adoption and access to remote education by university students and low income/anchor communities in Puerto Rico;
- Acquisition and deployment of equipment such as computers, tablets, and audiovisual equipment to improve educational instruction to UAGM CC low income/in need student population;
- Acquisition and deployment of broadband technology to provide access to Internet services to selected three anchor communities in Carolina County;
- Access to educational instruction on Cybersecurity through a program that focuses on the technological and operation aspects of information warfare, including cyber-attack and cyber defense; and
- Access to educational instruction to develop digital literacy skills among UAGM-CC low income/in need students and members of selected three anchor communities.
The Universidad Ana G. Mendez, Carolina Campus (UAGM-CC) Broadband Digital Inclusion Project (BDIP) has three primary outcomes. First, it will increase access to broadband internet services for low income/in need members of selected three anchor communities. Second, it will strengthen the Program of Social Network Communication and the Program of Cybersecurity’s educational instruction and remote education capabilities. Third, the BDIP will contribute scientific research related to barriers and digital inclusion strategies through an academic article and a project report on best practices for digital inclusion.
The beneficiaries of this project include the students of the Universidad Ana G. Mendez, Carolina Campus (UAGM-CC) who will receive access to the educational instruction equipment, and educational instruction in cybersecurity and digital literacy skills, thus fostering the digital inclusion of low-income and in-need university students. The surrounding anchor community will also benefit from this project, and low income and in-need households will receive access to broadband internet services and digital literacy training.
The recipient does not intend to subaward funds.
The applicant does not fund a consortium. The applicant’s activities do occur in the surrounding anchor communities. Details of community involvement are described below.