Location Washington, D.C. Mission Digital Inclusion | Method Collective Impact | |
Motto "Harnessing digital opportunity for all Americans" Services Low/No-cost Internet Access
Affordable Computers
Digital Skills Training Key people Ben Hecht (Chairman)
Carlos Slim (Board)
Jed Katz (Board)
Jorge A. Martinez (Board)
Josh Gottheimer (Board)
Zach Leverenz (CEO) | ||
EveryoneOn is a national non-profit organization working to eliminate the digital divide through partnerships with the technology industry, content creators, libraries and other organizations to deliver free and affordable technology and training to all Americans.
History
In a May 2011 speech, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski challenged the technology industry to help close the adoption gap. In response, a group of Internet service providers, technology companies and nonprofits collaborated to establish a public-private effort targeting the digital divide. This new initiative, announced as “Connect to Compete” by Genachowski on October 12, would focus on providing families meeting certain eligibility criteria with affordable Internet and computer offers for their homes. In his remarks, Genachowski stated that “having one-third of [21st century] Americans sitting on the [broadband] sidelines is as unthinkable as having one-third of our country without electricity in the 20th century.”
Connect to Compete, or Connect2Compete as it soon came to be known, was initially housed at the D.C.-based nonprofit organization One Economy Corporation. Ben Hecht, President and CEO of Living Cities, assumed the role of Board Chairman and helped C2C secure grants from the Carlos Slim Foundation, the Knight Foundation and the Wasserman Foundation to support the initiative in tandem with the commitments made by computer and software companies, training centers, and high-speed internet providers.
On March 21, 2013, C2C launched EveryoneOn, an Ad Council public service campaign intended to motivate Internet non-adopters to become connected and direct them to no-cost digital literacy training in their communities. The campaign's primary objective is helping the 60+ million unconnected Americans and encourages individuals age-23+ who are non- or limited Internet users to "do something better online."
Just over three weeks later, on April 16, 2013, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced his city's intention to serve as a pilot locale in the EveryoneOn campaign. Emanuel called the program "a great example of the public and the private sectors working together to craft innovative solutions to prepare our workforce for the global economy.”
On August 28, 2013, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the launch of "EveryoneOn NY" while speaking at a press event located at Harlem's Community Action School. Joined by officials that included United States Department of Education acting Deputy Secretary Jim Shelton and NYC Chancellor of Education Dennis Walcott, Bloomberg stated that “since its launch last year, the EveryoneOn approach has helped bridge the nation’s Internet divide so that everyone has access to the Internet.” In addition to a presentation on responsible Internet use, students at the school also received a surprise appearance from former New York Knicks all-star John Starks, who is active in the National Basketball Association's community outreach program "NBA Cares."
In order to better convey the larger EveryoneOn scope of services yet still maintain the identity and brand equity of the original cable offer, Connect2Compete transitioned to the name EveryoneOn in October 2013, within which Connect2Compete now serves as a flagship low-cost Internet program that is specifically focused on free and reduced school lunch families through partnerships with cable companies.