Some Solutions

Do You Live In A
"Digital Divide"
Right Here
In The USA?

Welcome to
FarsideOfTheMoon.1Gurl.com!

• "Americans are connecting to the Internet at higher rates than ever before. Over 50 percent of homes across the country have personal computers, and 4 out of 5 of them are linked to the Internet.
  
  Despite increases in connectivity, a "digital divide" in access to — and use of — the Internet and other information technology (IT) persists, particularly among individuals at different income and education levels, and in remote geographic areas." (WIN, 2002).



• "Spectacular growth in information technology, and specifically the Internet, has the potential to offer a new set of tools for rural development. However, it requires special efforts to create appropriate access models for those who [cannot] afford Internet access..." (Jayaweera, 2001).
  
  Sometimes it is not even a matter of having the funds. A person simply lives too far out from any hub of city activity, and the access problem is because of lack of services.
  
  
• "Although prices continue to fall, computers and Internet services are still unattainable luxuries for many Americans... rural America's lack of basic access to technology and services compounds issues of education and income. (Enders, 2000).
  
  
• "There will be no quick and easy solutions to the problems all rural Americans face in securing an education, finding employment and earning enough income to provide themselves and their families with a quality of life most others take for granted. (2000).
  
  
• "Information tools, such as the personal computer and the Internet, are increasingly critical to economic success and personal advancement. (2000).
  
  
• "Even educated, employed rural residents with adequate income encounter difficulties with purchasing computer equipment, finding technical support and training, connecting with an Internet service provider, and paying for services which may be more expensive than those in more populated areas. (2000).
  
  
• "Access to information is increasingly critical to finding a job, taking online courses, contacting colleagues, and finding resources. One approach to bridging the digital divide between the information 'haves' and 'have nots' is to increase the number of community computer/Internet access centers in schools, libraries and other public areas. (2000).
  
  
• "As income rises in the general population, so does computer ownership and Internet usage. Of households with incomes of more than $75,000, the percentage of computer ownership increases to 80.8% (urban) and 76.5% (rural). Internet usage rises to 62% for urban households and 53.7% for rural households. (2000).
  
  
• "Location plays an important role in the digital divide... people... in rural areas and central cities are less likely to own computers and to be online than their suburban peers. Regardless of income level, Americans in rural areas are lagging behind in Internet access." (2000).
  
  
• "The reasons for the lower number of rural users are complex but largely centre around the question of political will to upgrade telecommunication infrastructure.
  
  "Telecommunication infrastructure in many rural areas in North America is antiquated. Old telephone systems make it difficult for communities or companies to provide the digital and high-speed lines required for quality Internet service provision.
  
  "In less developed countries many rural regions do not even have phone service. To live in a rural area, no matter where in the world, often means having poorer telecommunication infrastructure than urban neighbours."
  (Richardson, 1998).
  
  
• "While rural citizens may have achieved near parity with their urban counterparts in conventional dial-up Internet connectivity, rural areas tend to lag behind urban areas in broadband penetration.
  
  "This discrepancy presents a significant challenge to communities hoping to revitalize lagging industrial and agricultural economies.
  
  "Furthermore, the lack of telecommunication services hinders the provision of enhanced educational content for K-12 education and adult learning, for those living in rural areas."
  (WIN, 2002).