Broadband to Advance Historically Black Colleges

One of the partners in the recently announced AIR.U initiative to build wireless broadband networks in college towns is the United Negro College Fund. UNCF plans to leverage this opportunity to put historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) on better footing with other colleges by building strong broadband infrastructure.

Robert Rucker, VP of Planning, Budgets and Information Technology for UNCF, discusses plans to help AIR.U create guidelines and broadband pilot programs for the 500 colleges nationwide represented by the initiative. These plans include using unlicensed white space to bring wireless broadband to colleges and the communities surrounding them.

Mr. Rucker also describes:

• the effectiveness of colleges as hubs of broadband innovation
• programs that are helping more minorities become computer literate and move online  
• creative uses of broadband technology originating in black communities
• how Federal broadband policy and funding programs can raise all boats