** Please pass this message on to colleagues, networks, and lists to whom it would be of interest. Thank you! ** PARTNERSHIP FOR PROGRESS ON THE DIGITAL DIVIDE 2015 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE Creating Connections, Building Bridges: Advancing the Digital Divide Research, Policy, and Practice Agenda 21-22 October 2015 Arizona State University SkySong Scottsdale (Phoenix), Arizona USA http://www.ppdd.org/conferences/ppdd2015/ In 1995, based on U.S. Census data collected in 1994, the newly created U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) prepared and released the landmark report “Falling Through the Net: A Survey of the ‘Have Nots’ in Rural and Urban America”. As a result, the inequalities of online access began to be discussed as the “Digital Divide” was recognized as a key challenge in countries around the world. Twenty-one years after that identification of the digital divide through social scientific research, the gaps persist and in many cases grow. According to the latest available data from the International Telecommunication Union, in all but 21 out of 228 countries around the world, and even in the vast majority of developed countries, at least 20% of the population does not benefit from even minimal access to the Internet at home. Even within the top 50 countries in Internet access, 18 countries, ranging from Bahrain to New Zealand to the United States, have 20-30% of their households offline and in 11 countries, including Spain, Italy, Croatia, and Russia, 30-38% of their populations have no Internet access at home. And, that trend continues with even some developed and wealthy countries with Very High Human Development according to the United Nations having around half their households without Internet access (e.g., Greece with 44%, Saudi Arabia with 46%, and Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, with 51% offline). While the digital divide has always impacted groups across a wide range of ages, now, given the number of years the digital divide has already persisted and its likely continuation into the future, these experiences of inequality will affect individuals across their entire life course. More than two decades of research, policy, and practice have taught us that the digital divide is about gaps in access and connectivity; the skills and digital literacy needed to interpret, understand, and navigate information presented online; effective use by individuals and communities; the impact of socio-economic factors on user behavior; the role of motivation, attitudes, and interests; differences in patterns of usage; the ways in which people use the Internet to create content; and the resulting socio-economic and cultural effects. But, more than that, when fully assessed and understood, it is evident that the digital divide has now taken its place alongside other long-standing, persistent issues of social equity and social justice. The interdisciplinary Partnership for Progress on the Digital Divide (PPDD) 2015 International Conference brings together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to strategize actions and catalyze solutions to this pressing societal concern. PPDD 2015 provides an extended, in-depth opportunity to consider the current state and future possibilities for research, policy, and practice that informs issues related to the digital divide around the world. Further, the Conference works to identify new areas of necessary, productive research focus to foster greater understanding and enlighten policy and practice going forward so that all global citizens can participate fully in the digital, networked age. As a major outcome of PPDD 2015, we plan to produce an edited volume of the top papers as well as special issues of journals on specific themes within the digital divide area. Hosted by the Arizona State University (ASU) School of Public Affairs, PPDD 2015 will be held at ASU’s high-tech SkySong in the Scottsdale area of Phoenix, Arizona, USA with complimentary transport to/from discounted hotel room blocks in pleasurable Old Town Scottsdale, a 5-10 minute drive from SkySong. Involving scholars, policymakers and practitioners at all stages of their careers, sessions at PPDD 2015 will include reports of research from any discipline and any theoretical and methodological approach that contributes to exploring the issues surrounding the digital divide as well as discussions of policy and practice work, experiences, ideas, challenges, and opportunities. In addition, there will be plenaries, including an opening plenary luncheon on 21 October, and a keynote luncheon on 22 October. The final session of PPDD 2015 is a highly interactive, lively brainstorming and collaborative thinking dialogue among all presenters and other attendees to create partnerships and inspire new ideas for digital divide research, policy, and practice. All participants in PPDD 2015 will have the opportunity to provide in advance position papers for this session that will be made available prior to the Conference and permanently archived via an e-book on the PPDD website. If you would like to present and discuss your work during PPDD 2015 and have it included in the online PPDD 2015 Conference Proceedings and/or if you would like to provide a Position Paper for inclusion in the PPDD 2015 E-Book, please see the Call for Participation (http://www.ppdd.org/conferences/ppdd2015/cfp/) for instructions on how to submit your work for consideration. If you would like to just attend PPDD 2015 to explore the issues and grow your knowledge and network of connections, please know that you are very welcome and valued in the PPDD Conference Community. Please join PPDD and an unprecedented broad multi-disciplinary coalition of co-sponsoring organizations from academic and practitioner communities to share your insights and expertise. Together, we will enrich the dialogue, connect research, policy and practice, and advance the agenda on the digital divide. Please contact conference [at] ppdd [dot] org with any questions. ------------------------------------------ CALL FOR PARTICIPATION ------------------------------------------ If you would like to 1) present and discuss your work during PPDD 2015 and have it included in the online PPDD 2015 Conference Proceedings and/or if you would like to 2) provide a Position Paper for inclusion in the PPDD 2015 E-Book, we look forward with enthusiasm to your contribution and ask that you please follow the instructions provided at http://www.ppdd.org/conferences/ppdd2015/cfp/ to submit your work. 1) Deadline to Submit Your Work for Consideration for Presentation: 20 August 2015 11:59 p.m. Hawaii Time Notification of Acceptance: 27 August 2015 If you have visa or other time-sensitive concerns, please submit your work as quickly as possible as directed below and email conference [at] ppdd [dot] org to request an expedited review so you can receive notification shortly after submission. Submissions that follow the instructions provided at http://www.ppdd.org/conferences/ppdd2015/cfp/ are welcome from researchers, policymakers, and practitioners at all stages of their careers, from any theoretical and methodological approach, and across multiple disciplines engaged in work that informs issues related to the digital divide, including but not limited to: – gaps in access and connectivity – digital inclusion – digital exclusion – digital (dis)engagement – challenges and opportunities – social and cultural aspects of the divide – the skills and digital/information literacy needed to interpret, understand, and navigate information presented online - effective use by individuals and communities – the impact of socioeconomic factors on user behavior – the role of motivation, attitudes, and interests – differences in patterns of usage – characteristics and conceptualizations of non-users – the ways in which people use the Internet to create content – different forms of capital and power relationships – the impact of new and evolving technologies – the mobile divide – the interplay of influence with mobile technologies – socioeconomic and cultural effects – social equity, social and economic justice, and democracy – the ethics of digital inequality – community informatics – social informatics – social planning – international development – indigenous populations – education – ICTs and well-being – health – disability and accessibility – politics, digital government, digital citizenship, smart cities/citizens/government, civic engagement, adoption issues, and (in)equality – global citizenship – policy and its impacts, including information/telecommunications policy, net neutrality, and open access – public access initiatives – practitioner-oriented topics considering aspects of design, management, implementation, assessment, and collaboration - architectural challenges and deployment experiences - Internet access cost analyses – the application of research to communities, practice, and public and private sector initiatives 2) Deadline to Submit a Position Paper for the PPDD 2015 Conference E-Book: 7 September 2015 11:59 p.m. Hawaii Time All PPDD 2015 attendees may submit a position paper and all submissions that follow the guidelines provided at www.ppdd.org/conferences/ppdd2015/cfp/ will be included in the PPDD 2015 Conference E-Book. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ HOTELS, VENUE, AND POST-CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ On the PPDD 2015 Hotels, Venue, and Post-Conference Activities page (http://www.ppdd.org/conferences/ppdd2015/hotelsvenue/), you will find full details about our hotels, SkySong, and the Scottsdale area as well as post-conference information if you are also attending AoIR IR16 and/or would like to take advantage of exciting opportunities to see digital divide work in action in the Gila River American Indian Community and experience the natural wonders of the American Southwest on a study tour to Sedona and the Grand Canyon, both of which require registration by 31 August. We have secured extremely low room rates at two quality hotels with great amenities. You are strongly encouraged to make your reservations at these hotels through the links provided below because other area hotels have much higher rates with fewer amenities and only guests staying at these two hotels within the PPDD 2015 room block will be provided with complimentary daily roundtrip transportation to/from SkySong (i.e., if you do not reserve your room through the links below, you will be responsible for your own daily transportation to/from SkySong). Hilton Garden Inn Scottsdale Old Town Single or Double: $119USD/night (plus tax) including complimentary continental breakfast, Internet access, parking, and more Please make your reservation at http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/groups/personalized/S/SCTGIGI-PPDD-2... Reservation Deadline: This special discounted room rate will be available until 21 September or when the group block is sold-out, whichever comes first. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Scottsdale Old Town Single or Double: $109USD/night (plus tax) Triple: $119USD/night (plus tax) Quad: $129USD/night (plus tax) All rates include complimentary hot breakfast buffet, Manager’s Reception Tuesday-Saturday with beer, wine, soda and light snacks, Internet access, parking, and more. Please make your reservation at http://www.hiexpress.com/redirect?path=hd&brandCode=ex&localeCode=en®ionC... Reservation Deadline: These special discounted room rates will be available until 14 September or when the group block is sold-out, whichever comes first. ------------------------------------ REGISTRATION ------------------------------------ The PPDD 2015 Conference registration fee is $99USD and includes full access to the Conference as well as lunch on 21 and 22 October plus the Conference reception and banquet dinner after the Conference programming on 21 October. Please note that all presenters must register by 10 September to ensure their place in the PPDD 2015 Conference Program. Please note the deadline to register for the post-Conference Gila River Telecommunications Field Trip or Gila River Telecommunications and Natural Wonders of the American Southwest Study Tour to Sedona and the Grand Canyon is 31 August. Please register at http://ppdd2015.brownpapertickets.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- YOUR PPDD 2015 CONFERENCE LEADERSHIP TEAM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Conference Organizers Susan B. Kretchmer, Partnership for Progress on the Digital Divide Rod Carveth, Morgan State University and Partnership for Progress on the Digital Divide Conference Host Arizona State University School of Public Affairs Karen Mossberger, Director Europe Sessions Organizer Grant Blank, Oxford University and Oxford Internet Institute Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa Sessions Organizer Gerard Goggin, University of Sydney Canada Sessions Organizer Richard Smith, Simon Fraser University and Centre for Digital Media United States Sessions Organizer Susan B. Kretchmer, Partnership for Progress on the Digital Divide Latin America and the Caribbean Sessions Organizer Laura Robinson, Santa Clara University Policymaker and Practitioner Liaison Angela Siefer, National Digital Inclusion Alliance ------------------------------------ CO-SPONSORS ------------------------------------ American Anthropological Association Committee on the Anthropology of Science, Technology, and Computing American Political Science Association Information Technology and Politics Section American Public Health Association Health Informatics Information Technology Section Communication and Information Technologies Section of the American Sociological Association Community Informatics Research Network International Association for Media and Communication Research International Association for Media and Communication Research Communication Policy and Technology Section International Association for Media and Communication Research Digital Divide Working Group International Communication Association International Communication Association Communication and Technology Division International Communication Association Communication Law and Policy Division International Communication Association Mass Communication Division iSchools National Communication Association National Digital Inclusion Alliance --------------------------------------- PUBLISHING PARTNERS --------------------------------------- Information Technologies and International Development Journal of Community Informatics Online Journal of Public Health Informatics Additional journals may be forthcoming ------------------------------------ SPONSORS ------------------------------------ The PPDD 2015 International Conference would not be possible without the generosity of our Sponsors whose dedication to enriching the dialogue and connecting research, policy, and practice leads the way in advancing the agenda on the digital divide. Please join us in thanking them. **Premier Sponsor and Conference Banquet Host** Arizona State University School of Public Affairs <http://spa.asu.edu/> **Premier Sponsor and Opening Plenary Luncheon Host** USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism <http://annenberg.usc.edu/> **Platinum Sponsor** Arizona State University School for the Future of Innovation in Society <https://sfis.asu.edu/ Institute of Cultural Capital <http://iccliverpool.ac.uk/> **Gold Sponsor** Arizona State University American Indian Policy Institute