Offline Americans get broadband training

broadband available to low-income US residents, has added a job-training partner to its roster and will increase its focus on using broadband to train and search for jobs, CIO reports.

Connect2Compete (C2C), a non-profit supported by the US Federal Communications Commission, Intel, Best Buy and several other organisations, will work with the US Department of Labour to provide digital literacy training at nearly 2 800 employment and training centres operated by the agency. C2C will train employees at the agency's American Job Centres on the non-profit's services, including discounted broadband service and refurbished laptops.

In addition, C2C will launch a nationwide digital literacy database, available both online and through a toll-free phone call, and promoted by a nationwide advertising campaign by the Ad Council, officials said. The database will launch later this year, with the advertising promotion starting in 2013.

PC World writes that Microsoft, Goodwill and other organisations have already focused on digital literacy in C2C, but the new partnership will enhance those efforts.

Digital literacy programmes are important because US residents lacking computer skills are missing out on many services, FCC chairman Julius Genachowski said during a press conference.

"The costs of digital exclusion are rising," he said. "Offline Americans are missing out on education opportunities, healthcare opportunities and, yes, job opportunities."