Connect2Compete Announces the Ad Council's First Campaign to Tackle Digital Literacy

Ben Hecht Named Connect2Compete Board Chairman

WASHINGTON, May 22, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Connect to Compete (C2C), Inc. today announced a national three-year Ad Council campaign to promote the importance of digital literacy and motivate individuals and families to access free community resources and training. The multimedia public service campaign, which will be developed in both English and Spanish, will begin in January 2013.

C2C is a private, nonprofit corporation created to harness the transformational power of the Internet to improve the lives of low income Americans and their ability to thrive in the global economy.

Digital literacy is essential to online access to jobs, health care, education and e-government. However, more than a fifth of American adults – approximately 60,000,000 people – consider themselves non-users of the Internet. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), digital literacy is one of the top three reasons Americans don't use computers and the Internet, with 46 percent of non-users responding that they lack the necessary skills.

The Connect2Compete partnership was announced last fall and launched at an event with Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski. "Neither the public sector, private sector, nor the nonprofit sector alone can tackle the broadband adoption gap and unleash the benefits of high-speed Internet for the 66 million Americans who don't have the basic digital literacy skills to find a job online or access educational content. That's just not acceptable in this day and age, where connectivity is essential." Genachowski said. "Partnerships across sectors are an important part of the solution. This campaign will help connect millions more Americans to broadband, and empower them to reap the benefits of the 21st century digital economy."

C2C since has been incorporated as an independent, national non-profit and Ben Hecht has agreed to serve as the organizing Chairman of the Board. Ben also serves as CEO of Living Cities, a collaborative of 22 of the world's largest foundations and financial institutions where C2C will incubate during its development period. "I am honored to serve as organizing Chairman of Connect2Compete; its mission of connecting all Americans to a world of digital opportunity is critical to jobs, education, and national competitiveness," said Hecht.

C2C also recently engaged Maria Hibbs to serve as Director of Development and Community Engagement, and has hired a search firm to find an Executive Director for the organization. Sonja Murray and Lee Davenport will continue to support the organization. In addition, beginning in fall 2012, C2C will launch phase one of its low-cost broadband connectivity in a significant footprint of the country, with the effort spreading to all fifty states beginning in January 2013. This initiative will offer $9.95 broadband Internet services and $150 refurbished computers to families on the Free School Lunch Program.

About Connect to Compete, Inc.
Connect to Compete, Inc. is an unprecedented collaboration of government, corporate, philanthropic and community leaders committed to harnessing technology, especially the transformational power of the Internet, to improve the lives of low income Americans and their ability to thrive in the global economy. With more than 40 nonprofit and private sector partners, this public-private partnership will address the barriers to broadband adoption, digital literacy and the employment skills gap facing many Americans. Learn more at Connect2Compete.org.

SOURCE Connect2Compete