NEWS Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974). News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: March 12, 2010 FCC: Janice Wise 202-418-8165 Email: janice.wise@fcc.gov FCC CHAIRMAN GENACHOWSKI ANNOUNCES CHILDREN’S AGENDA FOR DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY Chairman Outlines Recommendations in National Broadband Plan to Help Children and Empower Parents Washington, D.C. -- FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski today discussed working recommendations in the National Broadband Plan to benefit children and their families. Initiatives were announced that foster the Commission’s Children’s Agenda for Digital Opportunity to help children and empower parents. “Children are our most precious national resource,” said Chairman Genachowski at a policy speech at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. “We must do everything we can to educate and prepare them to thrive in the 21st century, and keep them safe.” The National Broadband Plan will propose a number of recommendations to: § Ensure all children have access to broadband § Allow children to develop digital literacy skills and benefit from digital learning § Promote digital citizenship § Improve online safety Specific proposals include modernizing the $9 billion Universal Service Fund so that it can be used to support broadband; updating the E-rate program to make it easier for children to get online at schools and libraries; and establishing a National Digital Literacy Program that will mobilize thousands of volunteers to teach digital skills to non-adopters and offer online courses on digital literacy. The Chairman also announced the Commission will hold a series of workshops and roundtables to further the Commission’s children’s agenda. The events will bring together leaders from industry, government, academia, and nonprofits to address a variety of issues, including digital access, digital and media literacy, digital citizenship, digital safety, educational programming, advertising, and childhood obesity, among others. The FCC will deliver the National Broadband Plan to Congress by March 17, 2010. Chairman Genachowski’s full remarks can be found at www.fcc.gov. -FCC- For more information about the National Broadband Plan, go to www.broadband.gov