Computadores para todos - Computers for Everyone
Education in Brazil, as elsewhere, starts at home. Unlike teaching of the "three Rs," computer science demands the presence of actual hardware and software to be effective. Despite the strength of the country's currency over the last decade and the falling prices of PC hardware, in the stratified Brazilian economy penetration of computers in the home still hovers in the single digits. Computadores para todos ("Computers for Everyone," formerly "PC Conectado") is a government-sponsored program to facilitate the purchase of PCs and ISP subscriptions and gives qualifying Brazilians various kinds of leverage in their personal IT purchases. First, it exempts PCs costing up to R$2,500 (US$1040) from various taxes (PIS and Cofins, totaling about 9.5%). Second, the program offers financing on Linux-based machines of a minimum configuration costing up to R$1,400 (US$583) in payments of R$70/month (minimum wage in Brazil is R$300/month). Third, the program stipulates that ISPs offer 15 hours/month of dial-up usage for R$5.00 (plus up to 50% in local taxes), but only to new phone subscribers or to existing fixed-line subscribers who have not had access for at least 15 months.

The configuration of financed machines includes CPU of 1.5 GHz or better, 40GB HDD, 128MB RAM, 15" monitor, floppy, CD-ROM, 56K modem, mouse, keyboard, and on-board Ethernet and audio. Bundled software is specified as a version of Linux (typically a Debian derivative) and 26 other software titles (open source programs and utilities).

These programs are not limited to low-income families and appeal to a range of economic levels. The path to Computadores para todos is not straightforward, however. To date, only a few retail outlets and ISPs are actually participating (e.g., Extra and Magazine Luiza, and ISPs Brasil Telecom, Telemar e Telefônica), and financing is bottled up in negotiations between the BNDES (Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social) and eligible retailers.

In August of 2005, Banco do Brasil did finally launch its own BB Crediário PC Conectado program. The Bank and its Visanet affiliates are offering financing for PC purchases up to R$1,200 at 2%/month interest rates (low by Brazilian standards), pre-approved for low-income consumers.

Looking Forward
Brazilians have a saying about their own country: O Brasil é o país do futuro e sempre será - "Brazil is the country of the future and always will be!" President Lula, his Workers' Party (PT), educators across Brazil, and a burgeoning community of end users and developers are hoping that Linux and open source can bring a more prosperous future to Brazil, today, or at least soon. To realize a future that leverages open source, Brazil will have to bridge critical gaps in educational software stacks, facilitate funding at local and federal levels, and ensure that endemic corruption does not divert that fiscal support from its intended ends.

Results to date have shown that while top-down support for FOSS has its public relations value, the most effective programs are local/bottom-up. Indeed, federal governments come and go - Lula's ruling Workers' Party faces serious challenges from corruption allegations, and its possible successors may not give FOSS the same priority as the present administration has. Nonetheless, the concepts and ideals of FOSS have already taken hold in Brazil, and by all accounts FOSS adoption in education and in the enterprise will continue to flourish, with or without stewardship from Brasilia.

Indicative of the grass-roots nature of FOSS adoption by education in Brazil are base deployment figures. As federal and state programs strongly promote adoption of Linux and open source, participants report that 40% of local educational PC hardware purchases deploy exclusively with Linux and FOSS workloads. The rest reach the classroom with either dual-boot configurations or with Windows alone. Proponents of 100% FOSS see this glass as more than half empty; however, in light of single-digit desktop and 25-30% server adoption rates for Linux worldwide, the community should raise its cup high and toast Brazil for these impressive educational figures - Saude!