Florida Representative Works to Bridge Digital Divide

Florida Representative Ed Jennings (Flemming Fellow ’02) led the fight for a law enacted last session to address the digital divide in his state. The law created the Digital Divide Council within the state’s Technology Office to design and implement pilot projects to bring computer technology to underserved populations in six different communities. Successful projects will become models for a statewide program to bridge the digital divide.

These pilot projects will provide opportunities to Floridians for education and training in information technology (IT), so they can become qualified for high-skill, high-wage employment. Programs will also bring technological access and resources to economically disadvantaged communities.

Jennings focused on the digital divide because he believes technology has become the new “universal equalizer.” “It’s a tool for people to reach their highest potential,” Jennings explained.

To gain support for his bill, Jennings showed that providing access to technology resources and training is not a handout, but an investment in the state’s economy. He brought in IT companies to testify about their need for a trained workforce. Jennings also successfully argued that if the legislature failed to pass the bill, Florida would continue to lose IT jobs to other states and other countries.

“The federal government imports so many workers from other countries for IT jobs because we cannot fulfill our skilled labor needs,” explained Jennings. “Florida was doing a disservice to its residents by not helping them to compete for these jobs.” The strategy helped him acquire bipartisan backers and the support of key players. “Both parties saw the rationale for the bill,” said Jennings.

Serving his first term in the legislature, Jennings sits on the Fiscal Responsibility, Information Technology, Business Regulation, Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations, and Senate Redistricting Committees. A graduate of the University of Florida, he is the President/CEO of Jennings Development Group, Inc.