MISSION STATEMENT

The project will serve to help promote the adoption of broadband services by older adults, to raise the profile of the challenges confronting the use and adoption of technology within the older community, and to create a new voice representing these issues.

GOALS:

  • Provide a new platform to promote the adoption of broadband services for the older adult community.
  • Advance the benefits of broadband services for older adults and the aging community.
    • Health benefits, such as telemedicine, health monitoring, and current health information
    • Reduction in isolation, such as social networking with community, family and friends
    • Online commerce opportunities
    • Independent living, aging in place
  • Connect national and local community organizations working on issues related to broadband together to exponentially increase the impact of adoption programs.
  • Address the barriers to the adoption of broadband that are of particular concern to the aging community:  value, usability (adapting to technology), safety and security, and privacy.

LEADERSHIP

Debra Berlyn is the Executive Director of the Project to Get Older Adults onLine (Project GOAL).  Project GOAL works to promote the adoption of broadband for older adults, and to advance technology applications for this community.  Ms. Berlyn is also the President of Consumer Policy Solutions, a firm focused on developing progressive policies for consumers in a competitive and innovative marketplace.

Prior to launching Consumer Policy Solutions, Ms. Berlyn was Senior Legislative Representative in the Federal Affairs Department of AARP, responsible for  communications and energy matters.

Ms. Berlyn served as Chair of the Federal Communications Commission’s Consumer Advisory Committee for nine years, and most recently served as its’ Vice-Chair. She is a Senior Fellow with the Future of Privacy Forum and serves as a member of the organization’s Board of Directors.  Ms. Berlyn is also on the Board of Directors of the National Consumers League. 

Ms. Berlyn is a seasoned veteran of telecommunications and consumer policy issues and an advocate for consumers of technology services.  As a national voice on the issues of aging and technology, broadband adoption, privacy, and telecom policy, she has been a guest on radio and television programs and has been published in media sources across the country.