New federal government data reveals that who is most online, and not, these days remains largely predicated on wealth and income.
According to a Federal Communications Commission study, 88 percent of all Americans with annual incomes over $50,000 have adopted broadband in their homes compared to just 54 percent of those who survive on less than $30,000 per year. In addition, researchers found that only 64 percent of all African-Americans now have broadband services in their homes, some 10 full percentage points less than the number of those who enjoy such services as a basic way of life.
The divisions are enough to have many still labeling, and still lingering, digital divide one of the most critical civil rights challenges of the entire 21 Century. Many of those same critics also contend all the digital learning advantages that broadband service offers its users is creating separate and inherently unequal learning environments from within the younger generation given the racially disproportionate way in which the tool is being used.
While incomes prominently figure in fostering the divide, it’s not the sole reason for it. The perceived lack of relevance of the web to one’s daily live expressed by those lease exposed to it is proving to be a major factor, as are such variables as a lack of digital skills and inaccessibility to needed electronic devices.
In addition, with more well-to-do schools already embracing the concept of the connected classroom, far less staffed and digitally equipped inner-city classrooms are falling even further behind the curve in terms of the way they’re left to educate their students.
Even many of the minority students currently benefitting from such classroom equalizers as electronic textbooks, online tutoring and other digital resources find themselves slipping behind by nightfall as they return to their digitally disconnected homes.
In the face of such overriding disparities, Comcast has launched Internet Essentials, touted as the nations; largest program ever dedicated to closing the digital divide among low-income families.
Internet Essentials was specifically designed to address the three barriers contributing to the divide--- lack of digital literacy, the need for computer access in the home and the cost of Internet service. Thus, the program offers families with children eligible for the National School Lunch Program the opportunity to purchase broadband service for under $10 a month, the option of buying a computer for under $150 and free digital literacy training.
In the first 22 months since the program’s inception, more than 220,000 low-income families or approximately 900,000 low-income Americans have been connected to broadband as a result of Internet Essentials, many for the first time.
Comments
Not a Civil Rights Issue
I believe that this doesn't have to do with civil rights, but that it just based on socio economic status. Computers are expensive, but any local library has them available for public use. Internet is more often then not included on those computers. No one can deny that poorer neighborhoods are predominately non-white. Therefore it just happens to seem that it is a problem of civil rights. So many schools and public libraries have increased efforts to make internet and computers available to those who cannot afford them. Although it may not be right that these poorer areas may not have as many of these resources, it does not have anything to do with the fact that these neighborhoods are non-white. Non-white socio economic status is a completely different story and has way more going on then their availability of computers.
Race relations
I couldn't agree more with this information. I'm the neighborhood I grew up in there were very few people that had a computer or computer access at home which makes it extremely difficult to be productive and informed. It's just not a cost many people in the neighborhood can afford. Our community is being hit extra hard by unemployment, poverty and drug abuse to the point that I just don't see how we can change the course we have charted. It is extremely wrong for any peso. In a free society like ours to be without the advantages others posses! If we hold back the poverty stricken because they are unfortunate we limit our ability as a society to build the future leaders of society. Great leaders are just not from advantaged neighborhoods with excess. Great leaders have opportunities to succeed because we as a society believe everyone can succeed. That's what this country was born on! Allow all people the advantage of knowledge and technology this will provide opportunity to everyone to change the destiny of their lives!!!
Race Issue?
I don't think this is a big race issue. The fact is, internet access is available to anyone who chooses it, in other words, there is no human bias to prevent one from obtaining internet access if one desires it. The only thing standing in the way of internet access is indeed money. If a family cannot afford internet access, than they won't be able to get it regardless of race. So, in my opinion, I don't think this is a race issue, rather, I think it is a socio-economic issue. Rather than focusing on the race aspect of this, I think focusing on the income disparities is what is important.
Race issue
This is not really a race issue. All libraries have access to the internet and technology for those sou would like to use them. this is however a economic issue, where the poorer are not getting as much access to technology. Based on the system of oppression and privilege regarding racism, it is however easy to draw the conclusion that this is actually very much so a race issue.
mixed feelings
while i do not think that this is directly related to race, it is causing more problems. Clearly if you cannot afford internet service you are not going to have it. But the problem then becomes the fact that if students need to do homework online, like many kids do, they will suffer because they cannot access it at home. Its impossible to tell teachers to make homework have nothing to do with the internet because the internet is so important these days. So, these kids without internet are going to do poorly in school and then this is how the divide will happen. So this is not a racist thing because internet companies are not bias... they will set up internet in a house for whoever will pay for it, but it is creating more problems. I dont think it would be fair to give all of these people who cant afford it free internet, but maybe make locations with free wifi more available for these people, like city internet or more libraries or public areas that have wifi
Systems At Work
I believe that the inaccessibility of computers and internet for African-Americans and Hispanics, to some extent, is an example of how the system of oppression works in America. Minorities, in many instances, are forced to live in lower-income neighborhoods because they are not given equal employment opportunities or because of government policies such as those implemented by the FHA in the 1950s. Living in these low-income communities, they are unable to afford a computer or internet and send their children to schools that do not have the technological resources that other schools have. Therefore, the children of minority parents are already at a disadvantage in society. It is like a vicious cycle.
In today's world, technology
In today's world, technology is used for everything and it is becoming more prevalent in the workplace. Internet Essentials is certainly a fantastic program for underprivileged families since it helps bridge the gap and gives more people the opportunity to access so much information on the internet. This program is a great investment since it will definitely benefit the future.
Coming to Terms
In today's age this may not seem like a civil rights issue but we as a society need to realize the impact the computer age is having on our lives. This new technology seems like an individual right but our lives as a whole are being transformed by the digital age. This is a civil rights issue because computers and the internet are a part of everyone's lives. We need to come to terms that this really is a civil rights issue because some people are being completely left out. Think of the housing discrimination after WWII that initially was not seen as a civil rights issue because in the times people said it was just one group working harder than another. The systemic racism was the underlying issue that had no thought of individual merits. This digital divide is today's form of systemic racism and the technology should be available to all. It is time to come to terms with this idea and learn from our mistakes.
We, as a society, are quickly
We, as a society, are quickly moving toward the becoming an increasingly technologically driven culture. And while it's easy for me to embrace that, I think that it is very important to bring up the question of whether it is fair to be increasingly dependent on something that isn't available to all. The focus for education is to use new digital technology and to incorporate it into programs. Yet that gives an unfair advantage to those who can afford such technology, and for those who can't, and oftentimes that happens to be racial minorities, it might not be a fair system. Fortunately, there are groups, like Internet Essentials mentioned in the article, that can help these families "catch up." But are they providing people with "lagging" services, those that are outdated? And isn't that especially dangerous in a world where new technology is outdated practically by the time you come home with it and take it out of the box?
It's all about the money
I understand that there is still racism out there and that many, if not all, African Americans, face problems due to the color of their skin. However, I do not believe that the digital divide is one of these issues. Computers are expensive, and often times having to pay for an internet service can get expensive as well. Also, public libraries often offer computer and internet services to anyone who may need them. Even people who live in areas where there may not be a public library, there is usually public transportation that could take you to one. I believe that people who do not use the internet either do not want to, do not need to, or are just to lazy to go find internet.
not racist
okay, now it just seems like we are making a big deal about every little thing that happens and calling it racist. this can't be racist.