Story Two: A Connection Changes Family’s World

Five-year-old Memphis Quintero wanted to show off. In a family of six children, Memphis’ precocious performances outshine even her cuddly younger twin sisters. But instead of flaunting her reading talents or new dance moves, Memphis had something else to parade – the list of Web sites she visits when she has her turn on the computer.

One of her favorite sites is Zwinky.com, where she can create 3-D images of herself and her family. But mostly, she can be found trolling BrainPOP.com. “BrainPop has a lot of stuff and you can learn and they have videos,” she says. “I watched a show about the continents.”

Memphis’ exuberance is understandable. Until six months ago, she could barely get online, as her family struggled with slow dial-up that would never load the videos she loves. On a low-income budget, The Quinteros couldn’t afford high-speed Internet. But thanks to a grant through a local community organization, the Little Tokyo Service Center, they now have a broadband connection.

The family’s one laptop rarely leaves the kitchen table in their small Los Angeles apartment, where 14-year-old Christian does his homework and mom Rosy stays connected to family and friends abroad. It’s not an overstatement to say that broadband has changed the Quinteros’ world. With almost every aspect of life demanding a high-speed connection, the family is finally able to fully participate.

“It’s been easier because I can spend more time doing my homework instead of waiting for the page to load,” Christian says.

Overcoming digital illiteracy

Dad Derek had been worried about his children’s education and future when they were limited to dial-up. “If you don’t have access to the Internet, you’re missing a giant portion of the world and it makes it hard to interact with the world,” he says.

“Knowing how to get on the Internet and how to gather the information is essential – especially for young children. If they don’t have computer literacy as they get into the higher grades and progress into college, they’re so much more behind the children who have access.”

A world of bits and bytes

Derek is relieved that his children are no longer being left behind, and he thinks that someday soon, in a reversal of roles, they’ll be teaching him about new online innovations.

“The world is swiftly becoming a world of bits and bytes,” he says. “As it becomes more and more digital, our children need to be more digital. One day, I’ll need Christian to help me get online, either through a PDA or Blackberry or chokecherry or whatever they got.”

It’s not just the kids of the Quintero family that are benefiting from broadband. Rosy has long been separated from her family in Mexico, and now she can finally communicate with them in ways that make them feel closer than ever.

“I can post videos of my children,” she says. “My mom can see my children. I don’t know how to express it. It makes me feel really happy because they’re not here and it’s not easy for them to come and visit. They can see my family.”