February 7th, 2013

Dale MertenC.O.O.

Broadband Summit

Objectives• Identify all barriers to adoption• Overcome those with

straightforward solutions.• Increase adoption from 40% to

100%

Target Audience• Only requirement is you do not

subscribe to broadband• Income, education, experience,

age, race, physical abilities is unimportant

• We cast a WIDE net!

How it works• Free laptop• Free broadband for 2 years

(5mb min)• Free installation• At least 40 hours classroom

training– Basic skills to advanced MS Office– Social media, Ebay, you name it

• Transportation if required

Partners• Cowlitz Tribal Housing

– Classrooms & transportation• Centralia Community College

– A wonderful instructor!• Chehalis Tribal Council

– Multi-site training• NTIA

– Could do it without you!

Results• Program funded 750 new

subscribers– Currently just under 600!

• All age groups, income brackets, ethnic backgrounds, education levels participate at similar rate

• We have made a huge difference in peoples lives

What We Have Learned• Direct Mailers don’t work

– Waste of money and trees• Door to door works

– The right approach easily opens the door

• Face to face works– Community events, school district,

senior centers, church• A friendly newspaper works

– A few good words better than 1000 ads

The Toughest Nut To Crack• Relevance

– “I see no need to be online”• Our adoption rate is above 80%

– Those few holdouts may never adopt

• More will adopt over time– Most people did not have a cell

phone in 1990• We must accept less than 100%

is OK– As long as 100% have access

February 7th, 2013

Dale MertenC.O.O.

Broadband Summit