The Latino Technology and Innovation Agenda, Pt. 2

Averting the Tech Jobs Cliff: Toward Meaningful Access and Participation

Washington’s brinksmanship over the fiscal cliff held the country’s attention for weeks. At the last minute — just after the last minute, really — a deal was passed out of Congress and made its way to the President, averting unintended tax increases and spending cuts, satisfying few, but at least “hopping” the country over the cliff.

The deal reminds us that good policy and progress cannot be made with last-minute work. Much remains to be accomplished to advance our goals of universal digital literacy and inclusion — both at the FCC and with the 113th Congress, and outside of Washington.

Technology empowers people. The rapid advance of information technology and broadband networks, and the revolutionary spread of mobile broadband-powered social media over the past decade has connected us, facilitated new economic opportunity, and created new marketplaces that literally did not exist just years ago.

Today’s economic giants, like Apple and Facebook, herald a brigade of developers and innovators who, from kitchen tables and coffee shops, over mobile broadband, or using McDonald’s and Starbuck’s Wi-Fi connections, are developing exciting new solutions to our education, healthcare, and government challenges through lines of code and compelling designs.

The digital divide – once captured in a “right side versus wrong side of the tracks” analysis of digital connections and availability — has morphed into a broader, much more complex debate about participation in the digital economy, especially for the Latino community.

Universal digital inclusion as a national priority

America is more connected than ever – 95% of the country is built out for broadband, and high-speed wireless networks blanket the country. While a small percentage of the hardest-to-reach rural communities are still to be connected, our cities and urban areas have access to a variety of broadband options – over cable, wireline networks, from an array of wireless carriers, and through a plethora of pre-paid mobile options.

Despite the advance of broadband, the indicia of an ongoing divide abound. The App economy, today approaching a $50 billion dollar marketplace, was first introduced by the advent of the iPhone just over five years ago – it is more than Angry Birds and Words with Friends.

Mobile technologies and applications increase the quality of life and open doors to countless new economic opportunities. Advancing “techpreneurship” is a key opportunity to participate in the growth in the technology sector and can create jobs and opportunity, even in the hardest to reach places.

Despite the economic necessity, only about 1% of tech startup dollars went to Latino- and African American-owned firms, combined, last year. While Latinos lead in embracing and using mobile technologies, the community lacks meaningful participation as creators and owners.

Meaningful Latino access and participation in the innovation economy demands attention to the way we prepare minority “techpreneurs.” But “techpreneurship” doesn’t start in the year before one drops out of Harvard. It takes access to powerful technology and ideas, very early; teachers and training opportunities that support entrepreneurial thinking; and a culture of participation in “techpreneurship” as a life choice.

More than Policy

The FCC’s recent announcement of its  broadband adoption pilot program,funded by Lifeline subsidy program  savings, which will provide new access to low-income consumers holds  much promise for several states and Puerto Rico.  But the real work lies with local communities, Nonprofit/nongovernmental orgs (NGOs), and school leaders.  Advancing participation in the Internet economy requires the bully pulpit of local organizations, teachers and leaders evangelizing digital opportunity and leading programming that develops skills.

What local leaders can do to advance digital participation:

• Bring coder culture to town: Schools, NGOs and organizations offer technology programs. Those programs must evolve to teach coding and app development. Contact Code Academy and Code for America, and bring trainers to your town.

• The coding PTA: Parents who want the best for kids should ask a simple question:  Are we teaching our kids to code in school? Every school with a tech program in America must advance to teach students to develop as “techpreneurs” and developers. Parents must ask the question of their school leaders.

• Coding at home: Does your family have an app?  Does your home business? With more opportunities online to create simple apps, and more online education, everyone can indeed learn a little coding.

One in six Americans said in 2012 they want to vote via their wireless device. It’s the app community that may help deliver that solution one day. In the meantime, billions of dollars are at stake in the new economy, dollars that must be captured through full participation in digital entrepreneurship.

This article was first published in LIN@R.

The Latino Technology and Innovation Agenda, Pt. 1

Jason A. Llorenz, Esq. is an attorney, advocate and speaker whose work focuses on emerging communities and the policy issues facing the technology and innovation sectors. He serves as an Advisor to the Mobile Future Coalition. Follow on Twitter: @llorenzesq.