Should the Gov't provide internet access?

Report: 'Digital divide' still an issue
Groups call for government involvement, programs
May 31, 2002 Posted: 10:04 AM EDT (1404 GMT)


WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- The "digital divide" separating the Internet-savvy from the unplugged is still a cause for concern and the United States government should consider subsidizing access, consumer groups said on Thursday.

Despite the fact that nearly two-thirds of all Americans now have access to the Internet, less-affluent households run the risk of being shut out of the digital economy because they are less likely to be online, said a report sponsored by several consumer groups.

The U.S. government should reinstate technology-grant programs that have been proposed for elimination in 2003, and should consider subsidizing access for low-income and hard-to-reach households, the report said.

"In our view, the fact that we have reached the halfway point in the diffusion of Internet access at home reinforces the need to seek policies to get the job done as quickly as possible," said the report, which was written by the Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, and the Civil Rights Forum on Communications Policy.

Concerns over a "digital divide" first surfaced shortly after the Internet began reaching a mass audience in the mid-1990s, as surveys showed that Internet users tended to be affluent and white.

Recent figures have shown that gap subsiding as more Americans go online. As of September 2001, 66 percent of the population used the Internet, with access growing fastest among households earning less than $15,000 per year, according to figures prepared by the Department of Commerce. The same report found racial and ethnic gaps narrowing as well.

Half empty or half full?
But households earning more than $50,000 are still three times as likely to have Internet access at home than households earning less than $25,000, the consumer groups pointed out. More-affluent households are also more likely to have signed up for high-speed access, the report noted.

"Is the glass half empty or half full? Given the importance of the Internet across a wide range of activities, the speed with which things develop in cyberspace and the emerging indications of another digital divide on the high-speed Internet, we must say the glass is half empty and in need of filling," the report said.

A Commerce Department official said that consumers did not need a government program to adopt new technologies, noting that 85 percent of television users have signed up for cable-TV service without government encouragement.

"We should empower individuals to make their own purchase decisions by lightening the load of government and cutting taxes," said Michael Gallagher, deputy assistant secretary at the Justice Department.

Gallagher noted that in adoption rates continue at the same pace as demonstrated in the September survey, 14 million more Americans would be online by now.

Copyright 2002 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/interne...eut/index.html

Honestly, didn't the USPS (postal service) have first crack at giving e-mail services via government funding, yet it was turned down and allowed to be shelled out to the corporations, because the thought it would never catch on and replace stamps.

Why are we bent on GIVING things to those who either dont work for it, cant figure it out, or are too stupid to even need it?

You know ... I don't know ... It's like the guy said re: cable tv ... or cell phones or even microwave ovens ... when will it ever stop?

Just because the government would start providing Internet access wouldn't make a difference (not saying it would not saying it won't). Just because you have access to the net doesn't mean you know how to use it.

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Originally posted by M*A*S*H 4077
Why are we bent on GIVING things to those who either dont work for it, cant figure it out, or are too stupid to even need it?

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i think the point of subsidizing internet access is focused more on people who want to use or learn how to use it but can't afford to... what you said is a bit unkind... im sure those people aren't stupid, just uninformed, uneducated. They might not have the same luxury as the rest of us who can afford it.

Besides, at least our tax money is spent on OURSELVES instead of being spent on some politician's payroll who may or may not deserve it :D

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Originally posted by LanSite
Copyright 2002 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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:D

TE

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Originally posted by LanSite
You know ... I don't know ... It's like the guy said re: cable tv ... or cell phones or even microwave ovens ... when will it ever stop?

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Kinda reminds me of the farm subsidies I used to get.
You don't have to plant anything and the gov't. stills sends a check. Thing is, the gov't also wants to tell you what to do with your land as a result.
Government subsidized Internet access might mean government regulated internet access. Not for me, thank you.
;)

No way. Stupidest idea ever.

How do they the government thinks it is going to pay for it? They're going to have to raise taxes. Only way.

Besides, it's a socialist idea any way.

Since when is internet access a right? It's a luxury.

I'm about as conservative as you get. Believe in a totally free market. But think about this, if our federal highway system had not been implemented how would that have effected our economy?

If there is one domestic thing our federal government should be involved in its a decent com system. broadband for all. But instead the gov will fight the hopeless missguieded opressive war on drugs. Not to mention all the dumb-ass subsidies for crap. I donate my used systems to charity (hopefully it winds up In some poor kids house).

when i say broadband for all i mean laying the wire. not admin or anything. ever seen a government server... friggin scary. dips mostly use frontpage, and that says enough.

<jaw hits the floor> :eek: Just when I thought I had you all figured out you go and throw me a curve like that ... ;)

Misguided war on drugs? You mean those PSA's with the kids saying, "I helped do (yadda yadda) ... I helped so and so buy so and such" - you mean they're not effective?!

I still say the gov't needs to not provide - it's a luxury for cryin' out loud ~ Next thing you know people will think the gov't needs to provide cars for all those that live in 'non walking' cities, eh? ;)

:D

don't most major libraries have computers w/ the internet ?


isn't that kind of like free access? (though i dont belong to libraries, and i dont know if it costs money to get a card in most places)

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Originally posted by Ian424
don't most major libraries have computers w/ the internet ?


isn't that kind of like free access? (though i dont belong to libraries, and i dont know if it costs money to get a card in most places)

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Yes they do and they have non-filtered access if I'm not mistaken ... this article *to me* was taken more of a 'in your home' type - they wouldn't just be providing net access, but maybe also the computers to get there? <shrugs>

<edit>
And IIRC ~ they're cutting back and that sort of funding - wasn't there something about cutting it out starting 2003 or something? *sigh* Now I"m gonna have to go look it up ;)
[Edited by LanSite on 06-01-2002 at 11:01 AM]

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Originally posted by LanSite

I still say the gov't needs to not provide - it's a luxury for cryin' out loud ~ Next thing you know people will think the gov't needs to provide cars for all those that live in 'non walking' cities, eh? ;)

:D

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well I would say the gov needs to provide the asphalt. If you too stupid to find a way to get a car thats your own problem. take a walk, most welfare recips i see could use it ;)

I got a soft spot for "open" education and the distribution of information. God knows we can't rely on the public education system for that. I'm guess i'm thinking of the kid. The kid didn't ask to be brought into the world with a mother(god knows where the father is) that is to stupid to take care of herself and make her own decisions.

You make a valid point, TG - if it's for kids' education - put it in all our schools :D I don't mind my tax dollars funding that.

school computers are pretty unused (at least here anyway)

we have carts full of laptops w/ 802.11b (i think) cards in them, in almost every single room.

we used them 2 times in the entire year, don't know how much other places use em, but folks in pennsylvania, your tax dollars are being put to great use.

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Originally posted by LanSite
You make a valid point, TG - if it's for kids' education - put it in all our schools :D I don't mind my tax dollars funding that.

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o.k. here is where i get wacky. I would rather it go to individuals than a state run institution. That institution could filter the information coming through. The public education system in the U.S. is so screwed up its like a cancer or virus. You have to starve a cancer or virus. Funding has increased more and more. yet the kids rate poorer and poorer agianst other nations.

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Originally posted by TallGuyLittleCar
o.k. here is where i get wacky. I would rather it go to individuals than a state run institution. That institution could filter the information coming through. The public education system in the U.S. is so screwed up its like a cancer or virus. You have to starve a cancer or virus. Funding has increased more and more. yet the kids rate poorer and poorer agianst other nations.

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Well, you're right about the school system ... and not just against other nations, but also against themselves - the previous year! My neighbor, bless her heart, is one of those "we have construction going on so they shouldn't count the kids tardy" types, anyway - she was complaining about the amount of homework her son gets - it's just too much for him to do, the teachers shouldn't do this to him, etc - well, I asked what it was he had ... She said he had a 40 problem math sheet to do and a book report due tomorrow (by the way - the book reports my kid has to do these days are NOTHING compared to what we had to spit out) ... :rolleyes: , but as usual - I digress ...

Okay - so what about the internet access available in teh libraries - no filters there.

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Originally posted by Ian424
school computers are pretty unused (at least here anyway)

we have carts full of laptops w/ 802.11b (i think) cards in them, in almost every single room.

we used them 2 times in the entire year, don't know how much other places use em, but folks in pennsylvania, your tax dollars are being put to great use.

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practices discretion. plans day trip to pennsylvania. ;)

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Originally posted by LanSite
Okay - so what about the internet access available in teh libraries - no filters there.

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probably really starting to reach here, but if they can keep the libraries open 24 hours. that would be great.

bookstores have better hours than libraries.hmmmmmm libraries should have coffee shops. a way of making a little money.