Needed: Community Technology Voices

How and where to be an advocate for community technology

A Policy Toolkit by George Gundrey, CompuMentor

This toolkit is based on the presentation at the May 1st, 2003 Community Technology Network of the Bay Area conference.

Audience: The core audience for this toolkit is Bay Area community technology practitioners (community technology centers, after-school programs that use technology, job training programs, etc.).

INTRODUCTION

Local, regional, and state agencies can help support your technology program. They can provide funding through specific grant programs, or can assure that existing funding mechanisms like those for workforce development, after-school programs, eGovernment, and education are accessible to nonprofits/community-based organizations. There are also technology-related programs like the California Teleconnect Fund (that provides discounts for telecommunications services like Internet access) that can be made more usable by community technology programs.

The main statewide coalition advocating for policies that support community technology is the California Community Technology Policy Group (CCTPG). While many organizations in the Bay Area participate in the work of the CCTPG, the main contacts is Ana Montes at Latino Issues Forum (anamontes@lif.org, 415-284-7208). The CCTPG has organizations around the state working in coordination, has expert advice and guidance from The Children’s Partnership, has hired a lobbyist who works in Sacramento on its behalf, and is coordinated by Richard Chabran, CCTPG Chair, who has experience in both policy work and starting and running a community technology center.

BENEFITS OF ADVOCACY

There are many benefits to working with the CCTPG. The bottom line is that Policy is a link to sustainability, for both your individual program and the field as a whole. When doing policy work, understand that you are the expert. Elected officials and other decision makers do not necessarily understand community technology, but are willing and able to learn if you teach them. You also need to understand that policy is a process. Government moves slowly, and often progress is incremental. Substantial victories may take years to achieve. You’ve got to keep at it. Download the excellent PDF handout by the Independent Sector, Ten Reasons to Lobby for Your Cause.

Finally, you need to understand that there are many different ways to advocate for policy changes to support CTCs. Bills can get passed. State regulations can get changed. Local governments can be lobbied. With the assistance of the CCTPG, you can get to know the players, craft a consistent message, and organize with your colleagues to affect change.

Steps to Being a Community Technology Advocate:

1. Know the Rules
   The first thing you need to do understand that 501c3 organizations are allowed to lobby and advocate. It is a common misconception that nonprofits are not allowed to lobby. There are rules about it, but they are very basic and easy to follow. Nonprofits can’t electioneer - (i.e. say “vote for John Doe”), but they can lobby (i.e. say “we support this legislation – Ms. Assemblyperson please vote for it”). For more details, see Luis M. Arteaga’s Guide for Non-Profits on Lobbying and Advocacy from the conference. While 501c3 organizations can legally lobby, many funders do not allow you to lobby with their money. That means you need to make sure at least some of your funding does not have this restriction. (Even if all your funding is restricted, you can still educate officials without advocating for specific legislation.)

2. Get Permission from Your Board or Executive Director
   Make sure your leadership understands and supports what you are doing. They may also be able to support you with expertise, contacts, or in other ways.

3. Get educated about the current work of the CCTPG.
   The CCTPG helps design and supports certain legislation every year. You should familiarize yourself with the current legislation (it’s all on their web site at www.cctpg.org) and join their email list. The CCTPG sends out alerts when there are key actions needed during the legislative process. If you have any questions or don’t understand something, contact a Bay Area representative or the Chair. This PowerPoint presentation also gives a good overview of the CCTPG.

4. Make a plan for the year.
   Take some time to write out all you are going to do regarding statewide policy. Your plan should include the following:

   • Invite your representatives to your center. Get clear on what messages you want to get across. The goals of the visit are to develop a good relationship with your representative, educate him/her about community technology and the work of your organization, and also get his/her support on specific legislation or policies. You should familiarize yourself with the CCTPG talking points about the importance of community technology generally. Be sure to tell all about your work, and have some of your clients do the talking. If your clients produce products like web sites, digital artwork, or videos, be sure to present them. Finally, understand what the current legislation is, and be able to discuss it. You donít need to be an expert. If any questions come up you donít know, just say you will get back to them. The CCTPG Guide to Legislative Visits will provide you some guidance on conducting yourself.

   • Write letters of support at key times. When a piece of CCTPG legislation is at a key point in the process, the CCTPG will request letters be sent via the email lists. Be sure to follow up in a timely manner.

   • Participate in Sacramento Day. One day per year, community technology advocates from around the state descend on Sacramento to meet with legislators in person, get training, and participate in other activities. See http://www.cctpg.org/sacramentoday/ for more information.

   • Recruit your colleagues. Ask other community technology program to get involved.

   There are a lot of other things you can do like attend hearings, testify before the Pubic Utilities Commission (which meets in San Francisco), and get involved with local policy issues like cable franchise agreements. If you would like to be more active, contact the CCTPG to get plugged in. Once you have a plan in place, you will find that doing policy work is not very much time, and can be very satisfying. If you need any more guidance, contact the CCTPG.