That you want to submit. Ber who a staff mem will be picking up those questions after each panel. We will also have a chance for members of the audience and our virtual audience to pose questions. Ate is what we are looking with our first panel, the vision, what happens when we get it right. Examine why partnerships and investments in broadband make a difference. We will have a senior officer at the bill and Melinda Gates foundation. We are hoping to have the had of El Paso Public Library with us, but you had a family emergency. What we are excited to have clarence anthony, the executive director of the National League of cities. We will start out with chris. Come to the microphone. Thank you. Thank you for holding this hearing. Opportunity toe talk about the experience that the bill and Melinda GatesHa Foundation has had, and our vision of how we can drive personal and Community Development. To helping farmers strengthen their crops to proving the educational system in the united started in 1997 with the Gates Library foundation. Over 20 offered Public Access to the internet. Many inside the Library Community ensure this was a service that libraries needed to offer. Melinda believe accessing technology was absolutelys absolutely essential. For a variety of reasons they this. Area they have multiple staff. If you can reach a public ary by 2004 that goal was met. After investing 230 Million Dollars the u. S. Library program in conjunction with partners at the federal state and local alll helped connect 99 of Public Libraries to the internet. I still search to the state to find out where that 1 is. By ensuring that all people continue to have the opportunity to lead productive lives. While the original vision of the foundation has been realized, it is time to turn our attention to a new vision, ensuring people have access involving opportunities that technology has to offer and the opportunity divide does not increase. Publicndation believes libraries are key components in meeting this new vision. Challenges in doing so. According to the 2011 and 2012 Public Library and funding access study, outlook and wifi use increased in the previous of publicre than 60 libraries. It also found that more than 65 reported they do not have Public Computers and to meet the demand and 41 reported their Internet Connection needs are insufficient. Arewhile Public Libraries dealing with decreased or inadequate budgets. States reported cuts and funding for Public Libraries in 2012 and more than 40 decreased Public Library support for three years in a row. People are looking to libraries to do just that. However libraries do not have adequate resources to meet these expanding needs. Despite these continuing , libraries have continued to move forward in addressing Community Development ismany areas, whether it Economic Development, engagement, or civic engagement. Through a variety of services, such as helping people prepare for resumes and jobs, helping equip them as showing how to take action through Government Services are helping to find information that proves their help or the health of their loved ones. Libraries have stepped into this role and people needs and expectations have continued to grow. Whether it is addressing the needs of immigrant communities, expanding learning opportunities informals in formal or ways, or supporting students through the provision of additional electronic resources. To be in a position to accomplish this vision, Public Libraries must have the bandwidth to provide such services in an efficient and effective manner. Note have heard, this is always the case and it continues to be a challenge. Substantial and ongoing investments from local, state, and federal programs to address robust conductivity to any library. Before libraries can fully explore these new services, they have to know their conductivity infrastructure is sufficient to handle chairman tatian and exploration without negatively impacting the access people depend on on a daily basis. All Tone Services youve include more video or interactive media, Public Libraries have struggled to provide the quality of Service Provided by the community when it comes to conductivity. Often faced this demand with conductivity infrastructure. It is not easily scale and offers little to no will to service guarantees. Libraries are often operating with one arm tied behind their back when it comes to connectivity. Broadband conductivity is the underlying bedrock for building a full suite of services for community and personal development with a robust and reliable rod band connection. Libraries and communities can move into more areas of exploration and innovation. Beyond beingve passive consumers of content to creating their own content, which is where great personal and Economic Opportunity lives. Through continued investments in meeting this vision, we hope to see more partners realize the power of the Public Library to assist personal and Community Development. We have seen and learned firsthand from investments in Public Libraries that there are theorganizations at community level. Thinking for the opportunity to share these comments. We are ready for clarence. We are so excited he could spend his time with us and managed to climb over these chairs. Thank you. Everyone in this room today has a story or a reason why you are here and you are committed to libraries and the impact on communities. When i was a migrant kid in florida, our family traveled all over florida working in the fields. We were placed in florida in the bell glades. We grew up in a community that did not have a library, did not have a stationary library. Nineyearold kid, i had choices to make. When that mobile library drove up to the park i could either stay on the playground or i could go into that mobile library for the two hours that it was there. Most often the playground one. Eventually you that i found my way into that library. Later i ran for Public Office in the community in which i grew up. And i had to deal with a number of issues, crime, drugs, housing. Back knew that when i came that one of the things i was going to advocate and fight for was to get a standing library in our community. So i spoke to the legislators, the county commission for five years straight using the same speech. The chair of the state legislative committee pulled out the exact speech and she read my speech and said would you guys please give this may a library . [laughter] well we got it. That i was after very blessed and honored at a very tender age of 98 that they very blessed and honored. They named that library. It made a difference in my life. I would not be here if it werent for that institution, that building, even that mobile library for me to read about the places i could travel, the things i could do as a migrant kid. Changed but libraries are still important. They are still significant. Has notfact that changed is the fact that the equalizer in america is education. Equalizer is education. And an ability to connect to the inernet and have computers homes as well as in our libraries. Citiesional league of understands that fact and our political leaders nationally have made a commitment to education to advocate for andslation that will extend expand the eu rate program ,unding, streamline the program and make sure that every american will have the ability to live that American Dream and have access to internet, as well as computers. We have also partnered with the urban Libraries Council to assist in making sure that any developed inare the eu rate program really in the Erate Program 00 the 2 billion that we committed, it is not enough in 2014 to be able to deal with the issue that we have to deal with to deliver digital connectivity to americans. Are mosty those that often left behind. The chairman quoted Andrew Carnegie and i will as well. Outranks anything a community can do to benefit the people. Digital literacy is no longer a choice in american cities. To highspeed internet is ential for americans gaining access to health coverage. It is important that if we are going to bridge the real economic and Educational Opportunities in america, people have to have access to the internet and computers. Note also important to that in the minority communities, that is where it is hurting most. For city leaders, we recognize that the Minority Community and the access to education is important, the access to internet is important. We are failing. I dont make speeches just to make briefings and comments. I am calling to ask that question. Im not going to criticize washington right now. I can tell you mayors, City Councils in town, and villages all over america, we are making things happen. We want to make sure that things happen. I want to say that a call to action is needed around this issue. Anil c is committed to working with the uls the, congress, the white house, i lms. We are committed to working with everybody to make sure we address this issue. Talk is easy but action is more portent. We know many families only see iphones and ipads and computers in libraries such as this. This is the place people, and they traveled around the world because they can read about places. To get thethe time eu rate modernization process right. Lets be creative and bold in our thinking to making sure our libraries have the Technology Infrastructure that they need to support a strong local community that results in Strong National economy. The my kids would be embarrassed as i say this. Says, i b singer started from the bottom, now i am here. And it is because of libraries. Thank you. [applause] that was terrific. We have a couple of questions if we have anything some quick thoughts for all of you. Iwhat do you think community toders and libraries can do promote Digital Literacy in a shared vision of Broadband Connectivity. I know all of our mayors are at place where anthony is. What can your city leaders or Library Leaders do . One of the things Library Leaders can do is make sure the city leaders get inside the library. Often times it has been a while some some of the leaders have been inside the library and see the changes that have happened. And also understand the demand. It hard to understand what role that plays in your daily life until it is taken away. For people who dont have that at home, understanding what that for them letting our leaders see it and articulating what it is the library is doing to meet those Digital Literacy needs is very important. I agree with chris. You really do have a lot of issues you deal with. I would encourage, as you are doing, to become stronger advocates. You have to fight for that space to make sure that public leaders know that we recognize it is important. If you dont have an educated , libraries are an essential part of all of that connectivity. You have to tell your story of why it is important or it gets lost. Including pipes, water, and sewer. Things,nt see those sometimes the library is visible in communities. We have to make it more visible. As i always say, i think libraries sadly we are never in the front of anyones mind. When you bring this up as a service or option or consideration, oh yeah, why dont we think of a library . Did you have a question for our panels . I have a question for both. To start with cities, as a library and in a thriving growing city of baltimore and a former resident of chicago, why should cities really care about broadband . Why is it important for city use in particular to provide the Public Access. And as one of the first recipients of the Gates Foundation grants, your , why isng commitment that still important to the Gates Foundation . I talked a little bit about it earlier. The reason it is important is because right now it is still very competitive. Cities are competing against each other to recruit companies, to recruit younger folks into the community. If they dont have that infrastructure they are not americanbe the great cities then they like to be. The reason toting bring broadband and internet and all kinds of access. They show that as a valuable resource to recruit companies. Part whereshow the the population was left behind. In are cities are identifying that is an important part of our community, it is about jobs. It is about improving the lives of people who live in those communities. Right now i dont think that we as americans have reached into the depths of where we need to to bring everyone up and have that access. 100 eam is to have a internet wide broadband city. Everybody would have access to it, whether you are sitting in a park or not. I have challenged the broadband citynity to find a pilot that we can actually make a city. A quick question for you. Here you go. Get mored it take to funders to support libraries and digital little and Digital Literacy . You dont have to convince us. A we are continuing to make that. In 1990 seven i actually installed computers here in 1998. The demand is still the same now as it was then. The opportunities have changed as libraries continue to meet that. I think to convince more funds, it goes back to that point. If you want to understand Economic Development, whether it is at a city level or private foundation that is going to fund are, whatever their aims libraries are already doing that work. That is the amazing thing. Just telling our story and telling it very effectively in and in a compelling manner people talk about compelling manner. People talk about their personal relationship. That was a terrific answer. Are doing some any Different Things all over the country. Need to package those services to meet the priorities of some funders. It is a Great Partnership that has. A less that imls we funded 24 all over the country. Teens are our target audiences. We give young people skills to get jobs once they go beyond high school. Things wet all of the do and package it to really meet the needs of the funder. A round of applause for panel one. Panel two i will ask to join us. Thank you, gentlemen. Ok, panel two is on the way up. Viewers are asking to submit questions to twitter. Panel with data lehrer clark, mary and jorgensen, and john this will expand what we know broadband in libraries. What are the metrics we need to assure success . The first speaker is with the American Library association. Oh itp. I have to say theres a lot of alphabet soup today. We can have a little dictionary we attached to the live cast of this. Research director of the harvard project at the American IndianEconomic Development. Finally john, who was well known ur Library Community would you talk a little bit and then we will have a chance to ask some questions. Thank you, susan. To all of the Board Members and together andng discussing the future of libraries in our community. It is an honor to share the stage with chairman wheeler and so other distinguished speakers. We are the Largest Library association in the world, serving 50,000 members. Policiesrks to ensure at the means of uphold the publics right to free and open society. I would like to wish you all a happy library week. Ill draw more than 20 years of research. The alae office for research and statistics. To thank all these researchers for their many contributions. First a snapshot of Public Libraries. 16,400re more than Library Buildings, more than the number of mcdonalds in the United States, which is always a good way to think about the numbers and what they can mean. There are more than 1. 5 billion visits annually. Many of these include computer and internet use both wired and wireless. We have seen ongoing improvement in Library Internet speeds over the past decade. Reportedof libraries speech greater than 1. 5 megabits per second. The by 2012 we nearly flipped this nearly flipped the statistic. Fewer than 10 of libraries promoted speeds faster. Still roughly 10 of our rural and small libraries are still at 1. 5 megabits per second. Half of our libraries have the bandwidth that we enjoy at home. At the same time they have an average of 10 computers in our rural libraries. We have seen an exploding number of devices. My laptop, myve smart phone, my ipad. We see this in our libraries as well. Ranging from ebooks to instructional videos. And then videoconferencing. People are connecting with