FCC, community groups tackle broadband and older Americans

May is national Older Americans Month. In that spirit, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau hosted a Senior Digital Literacy Day seminar, How the Internet Can Benefit Older Americans, April 24 at FCC headquarters.

Throughout the morning, experts and teachers from the nonprofit sector spoke to the invitees – seniors, and those who work with and/or care for seniors – about broadband. For those who couldn’t make it to Washington, the half-day session was webcast on the FCC website.

“The seminar,” said the FCC, “included interactive demonstrations of electronic devices, such as cell phones, tablets, iPads, desktops and e-readers, and user-friendly computer programs that can benefit seniors.”

The speakers were Thomas Kamber, PhD, Executive Director, Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) and Debra Berlyn, Executive Director, The Project to Get Older Americans onLine (GOAL).

Older adults, particularly low-income seniors, remain the hardest group to connect to the new technology. But Kamber said that he’d been working on this issue for nine years, and had taught directly or indirect, more than10,000 older adults. “I’ve never met anybody yet, who cannot learn how to use this technology,” he said.

To watch the live broadcast, just click here.

How the Internet Can Benefit Older Americans (FCC, Apr. 24, 2013)