President Clinton has proposed a seven part initiative to move "from digital divide to digital opportunity." The objective is to not only accelerate access to computer technology, but also to "promote content and applications of technology that will help empower underserved communities."

The President proposes:

--$100 million to create 1,000 Community Technology Centers (see http://www.ombwatch.org/ctc for more information). This more than triples current funding;

--$150 million to help train new teachers to use technology effectively in the classroom. This doubles current funding;

--$50 million for a new grant program for expanding access to computers and the Internet for low-income families and for skills development. The grants would be administered by the Commerce Department and would be for local public- private partnerships;

--$45 million for the Technology Opportunities Program (TOP), formerly the Technology Information Infrastructure Assistance Program (TIIAP), for innovative applications of technology. This triples the current amount;

--$25 million for a new program to accelerate, through grants and loan guarantees, private sector deployment of the broadband networks in under-served urban and rural communities;

--$10 million for preparing Native Americans for careers in information technology and other technical fields; and

--$2 billion over 10 years in tax incentives to encourage private sector donation of computers, sponsorship of CTCs, and technology training for workers.

More information is available from the White House Digital Divide Website (http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/New/ digitaldivide).