From Digital Divide to Digital Opportunity

Looking at the major issues surrounding the digital divide debate from a historical, political, and global perspective, this comprehensive book offers potential model approaches and country-by-country analysis. Unique in scope and structure, it is both a policy guide and reference book, providing solutions and resources that will help build a community of interest and foster the exchange of information and best practices.

Preface

vii

Defining the Digital Divide

1

(52)

What Is the Digital Divide?

2

(2)

Brief Outline of the Evolution of the Digital Divide

4

(1)

Terms of the Digital Divide Debate in the United States

5

(11)

Digital Divide: Crisis or Hype?

8

(2)

Internet Access: Necessity or Luxury?

10

(3)

Who Is Not ``Wired'' and Why?

13

(3)

Aspects of Access

16

(8)

Access to Broadband Connections

16

(3)

Access to Computers and Internet Devices

19

(1)

Access to Usable Content

20

(1)

Employment

21

(3)

The Digital Divide and U.S. Target Groups

24

(29)

Low-Income Citizens

24

(2)

Racial and Ethnic Minorities

26

(4)

Rural Communities

30

(3)

Seniors

33

(2)

The Disabled

35

(2)

Women

37

(16)

The Urgency of the Digital Divide

53

(22)

Technical Revolutions and the Disadvantaged

54

(5)

Technology Haves and Have-nots: Converging or Diverging?

59

(8)

Adoption and Diffusion

59

(1)

Pace of Internet Adoption

60

(1)

Involuntary Barriers to Adoption

61

(1)

Risks of Late Adoption

62

(2)

The Internet Is Not Analogous to Other Technologies

64

(3)

What Is at Stake Domestically?

67

(8)

Issues of Democracy

68

(1)

Economic Issues

69

(6)

The Digital Divide and Education

75

(30)

Does Technology Promote Learning?

76

(2)

The Nature of the Education Divide

78

(5)

Number of Classrooms Connected to the Internet

79

(1)

Ratio of Students to Computers

80

(1)

Speed of Internet Connection

81

(1)

Teacher Ability

81

(2)

Key Challenges of the Digital Divide in Education

83

(5)

Lack of Teachers

84

(1)

Lack of Integration

84

(2)

The ``Last Mile'' Problem

86

(1)

Belief Systems about Technology

87

(1)

Lack of Infrastructure

87

(1)

Federal Efforts to Bridge the Digital Divide in Education

88

(4)

The E-Rate

88

(1)

Department of Education's Technology Initiatives

89

(3)

Bold Actions/Workable Solutions

92

(6)

Create Statewide Integration Approaches

94

(1)

Community-Level Strategies

95

(1)

National Standards

96

(2)

Potential Model Approaches

98

(7)

Boston Computer Clubhouse

99

(1)

The Appalachian Center for Economic Networks

100

(1)

NetDay Project in Detroit's Empowerment Zone

101

(1)

The United Kingdom's National Grid for Learning

102

(3)

The Global Digital Divide

105

(36)

The International Digital Divide

105

(5)

The Intranational Digital Divides

110

(16)

Africa

111

(2)

Asia

113

(2)

The Indian Subcontinent

115

(2)

The Middle East

117

(2)

Eastern Europe

119

(2)

Western Europe

121

(3)

Latin America

124

(2)

Common Divides/Different Solutions

126

(15)

Australia

127

(2)

Canada

129

(2)

Singapore

131

(10)

Policy Options for Closing the Digital Divide

141

(18)

Option 1: Let the Market Fix the Problem

142

(2)

Examples of the Market Option in Action

143

(1)

Option 2: Government Action

144

(6)

Examples of Federally Funded Programs

145

(1)

Examples of Federal Regulations and Tax Policy

146

(2)

Examples of State and Local Government Action

148

(2)

Option 3: Rely on Philanthropy and Community Action

150

(3)

Examples of Philanthropy

150

(2)

Examples of Community Action

152

(1)

Private/Public Partnerships

153

(6)

The Digital Divide Is a Digital Opportunity

159

(20)

Review of the Digital Divide

159

(3)

What Is Digital Opportunity?

162

(1)

A Recommended Approach: TTCM

162

(9)

Teacher/Training

164

(1)

Technology

165

(2)

Courseware/Content

167

(2)

Motivation

169

(2)

Ten Steps to Bridging the Digital Divide in Your Community

171

(8)

Appendix A: Digital Divide Resources

Appendix B: Digital Divide References

Index

179

(10)

About the Authors

189

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From Digital Divide to Digital Opportunity

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials