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Digital Divide Network

Link: http://www.digitaldividenetwork.org/content/sections/index.cfm?key=3

Despite the incredible growth of the Internet since the early 1990s, many citizens still do not have easy access to basic IT tools, whether it's access to hardware, software, or the Internet itself. Access is an issue that affects people at home, at school and in the community at large. Neighborhoods with less technology access are at a disadvantage in contrast to those neighborhoods with more access when it comes to seeking better education, better jobs, even higher levels of civic participation. Different groups often lack access for very different reasons. In rural America, especially Indian Country, the high cost of establishing a communications infrastructure has meant that these areas are often the last to see the benefits of the Internet. The disabled community, including the visually impaired, the homebound, and millions of people with other disabilities, often find themselves lacking basic Internet tools because of the limited investments in assistive technologies development. And K-12 schools across the country continue to struggle when it comes to bringing the Internet into the classroom. Despite the enormous success of initiatives like the federal E-Rate program, schools must still contend with aging computers, crumbling buildings and limited hardware funds. No matter the situation, the access dilemma rears its ugly head in profound ways. In this section of the Web site, we profile people and communities that are grappling with their own access issues. Further down this page, in our list of Web Resources, we highlight Internet sites that offer a range of access-related information. For those of you interested in access-related research and statistics, we also encourage you to visit our Current Research page.

  • Cataloged: 2002-12-26
  • Contributor: mailto:[email protected]
  • Author/Creator: Digital Divide Network
  • Publisher: Digital Divide Network
  • Rights: Digital Divide Network
  • Source: Digital Divide Network
  • Resource Availability: 200 OK

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