Document text
Group's goal: Internet access for everyone A Medford youth has helped start a nationwide effort to provide Internet access for everyone. Adam Bunch, 17, is one of 20 youths on the Access the Future Coalition, a newly formed national committee. "The main goal of the group is to establish a way of creating programs and classes that will help kids in lower-income families get access to the Internet," Bunch says. On a local level, Bunch hopes to establish public computer labs and give free workshops for the computer-illiterate. Bunch, who is home-schooled and doesn't have a computer, sees access as an important part of education. He wants to make sure home-schooled children have the opportunity to log on. "The Internet's a really great source for information," he says. Bunch, who does cooking and art for 4-H, met the other members of the committee at the National 4-H Youth Conference in Maryland two weeks ago. 4-H members from throughout the nation worked in groups discussing issues such as feeding the homeless. Bunch's group, with members ranging from Washington to Puerto Rico, focused on the Internet. After a weeklong discussion, Bunch says, his group wanted to do more. They decided to form AFC and keep in contact over the Internet. Bunch says he adds a different perspective to the group because most of the members own computers, unlike him. He says they don't realize the difficulty and expense for most people to access the Internet. In addition, conference-goers paid a visit to Capitol Hill. Bunch met with Oregon legislators to discuss the committee's ideas and get advice. To make the public computer labs plan happen, Bunch must first get approval of the idea through 4-H. Then, he says, he will talk to local businesses and schools. For more information about AFC, email them at [email protected] Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA