In an effort to bring the Internet to low-income families, the Brazilian government is spending US$ 10 million (24.3 million reais), to set up a total of 90 Casa Brasil (Brazil House) units.
Each unit will contain at least 10 computers with broadband links, a multimedia studio for recording video and audio, a radio shack and a basic library.
The place will also have an auditorium seating 50, a science laboratory, modules with news and data on the government and an information center for the citizen (where he can find out how to obtain microcredit, for example).
The Casa Brasil units will be public and free, permitting users knowledge through hands-on use of the new technologies of information and communications.
The program is sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Information Technology Institute (ITI) and the office of the presidential chief of staff (Casa Civil).
Initially Casa Brasil units will be installed in neighborhoods in capital cities where the Human Development Index is low, and the populational density, levels of violence and unemployment are high.
ABr – www.radiobras.gov.br