Digital DivideDigital Divide

Should the public subsidize computer Should the public subsidize computer and/or Internet access for underserved and/or Internet access for underserved

areas and communities?areas and communities?

YES!!!!!YES!!!!!

The Digital Divide - Discovered!!!The Digital Divide - Discovered!!!

1995- National Telecommunications and 1995- National Telecommunications and Information Administration first identified Information Administration first identified the problem of digital divide in their report the problem of digital divide in their report ““Falling Through the Net”Falling Through the Net”

CJ’s Personal TestimonyCJ’s Personal Testimony

Social IssuesSocial Issues Computers and technology are becoming an integral part of Computers and technology are becoming an integral part of

society and educationsociety and education

It is necessary to provide children with the skills to make sense It is necessary to provide children with the skills to make sense

of and use the informationof and use the information..

The percentage of schools with internet access increased from The percentage of schools with internet access increased from 35% to 99% from 1994 to 200135% to 99% from 1994 to 2001

Reliance on technology serves to exacerbate preexisting Reliance on technology serves to exacerbate preexisting

inequalitiesinequalities

Providing access to technology helps create opportunities for Providing access to technology helps create opportunities for

social mobilitysocial mobility

Social Reasons cont.Social Reasons cont.

Subsidized access could help cut down onSubsidized access could help cut down on racial and socioeconomic disparitiesracial and socioeconomic disparities

77% of Whites use a computer at home, while 77% of Whites use a computer at home, while 41% of blacks and Hispanics do. 31% of 41% of blacks and Hispanics do. 31% of students from families earning less than $20,000 students from families earning less than $20,000 use a computer at home, compared w/ 89% of use a computer at home, compared w/ 89% of

those w/ incomes of over $75,000those w/ incomes of over $75,000

Increasing technological access is key in Increasing technological access is key in

eliminating povertyeliminating poverty

Past Government Strategies to Past Government Strategies to Deal with the Digital DivideDeal with the Digital Divide

The Clinton AdministrationThe Clinton Administration:: Called for the opening of new government community Called for the opening of new government community

centers and the development of a plan to make centers and the development of a plan to make computers accessible to all Americanscomputers accessible to all Americans

E-RatesE-Rates: : From Digital Divide to Digital OpportunityFrom Digital Divide to Digital Opportunity A multi-billion dollar effort to broaden access to A multi-billion dollar effort to broaden access to

technology, provide individuals with skilled technology, provide individuals with skilled teachers and the training necessary to master teachers and the training necessary to master the information economythe information economy

Drawbacks to Government Drawbacks to Government InitiativesInitiatives

Although the presence of internet access in Although the presence of internet access in public schools has increased, studies have public schools has increased, studies have shown that there have not been significant shown that there have not been significant increases in standardized test scores in increases in standardized test scores in schools that received subsidies?schools that received subsidies?

What does this say about the program??What does this say about the program??

The Current Government’s The Current Government’s AgendaAgenda

““In America no child should be In America no child should be left behind. Every child should left behind. Every child should be educated to his or her full be educated to his or her full potential”potential”

-The Bush Administration 2002--The Bush Administration 2002-

The Bush Administration’s The Bush Administration’s Actual AgendaActual Agenda

2005- The United States 2005- The United States Government cuts funding for Government cuts funding for Community Technology Centers Community Technology Centers (a program run by the Department (a program run by the Department of Education) and the Technology of Education) and the Technology Opportunities ProgramOpportunities Program

Economic ConsiderationsEconomic Considerations

Everyone can benefit !Everyone can benefit !

The initiative to bridge the digital The initiative to bridge the digital divide is highly sustainable !divide is highly sustainable !

Priced out of market - income and Priced out of market - income and expenditure considerations !expenditure considerations !

Bridging the digital divideBridging the digital divide

Sustained or even reduced subscription/network prices

Individuals have increased capacity to engage in economically productive activities

Positive effects on the community Positive effects on other

communities at large

Everyone benefits!Everyone benefits!

Bridging the digital divideBridging the digital divide

Software - easily accessible as downloads are off the web; cheap/free

Hardware - consumer cyclical goods that only need to be renewed every cycle (six, eight years?)

Is it sustainable? Is it sustainable?

Bridging the digital divideBridging the digital divide

Policy design should be governed by its merits

Sustainability issues are important but secondary considerations

Is it sustainable? Is it sustainable?

Bridging the digital divideBridging the digital divide

Inequalities between ‘physical and electronic spaces’ mutually reinforce each other

Digital divide contributes to the increasing income gap between the rich and the poor in America

Economic poverty = “Information poverty”Economic poverty = “Information poverty”

Bridging the digital divideBridging the digital divide

U.S. annual per capita income and household income for

African Americans: $15,197/ $30,439

Hispanics: $12,306/ $33,447

Priced out of market? Priced out of market?

Bridging the digital divideBridging the digital divide

Used computer unit: 250 USD Software: 50 USD Internet subscription: 360 USD Total: 660 USD

2.0-2.5% of annual household income for African Americans and Hispanic families!

Priced out of market? Priced out of market?

Bridging the digital divideBridging the digital divide

“Desktop computers are available at relatively low (and constantly declining) prices… the public should not subsidize computer and Internet access for under-served areas and communities because it is not the responsibility of the government to provide a market-based commodity.”

FALSEFALSE

Bridging the digital divideBridging the digital divide

“The percentages of households with computers and Internet access have continued to increase over the past several years… there is no reason to assume that these trends will not continue… computer and Internet usage will become nearly universal without additional government interference.”

FALSEFALSE

Bridging the digital divideBridging the digital divide

How? How?

Cluster-system in public spaces within inner cities?

Partial fee structure to encourage ownership of resources?

Bridging the digital divideBridging the digital divide

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION