Lawmakers Urge Incentives To Increase Broadband Adoption
A new report on the broadband needs of minority communities from a group of state legislators of color highlights the policy actions needed to increase broadband access in diverse communities, including incentives to encourage greater adoption.
The report, titled Towards Access, Adoption & Inclusion, A Call for Digital Equality and Broadband Opportunity, goes beyond recognizing the digital divide to encourage some specific actions needed to get people of color online. One idea is to educate users by explaining the greater benefits of participation, including social connectedness and opportunities for political engagement.
The report was issued by the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators, The National Caucus of Native American State Legislators, and the National Pacific American Caucus of State Legislators.
While actual access to connect with broadband services is an issue in some parts of the country, broadband is available in 92% of the country, yet only two-thirds of the majority population with access to broadband actually uses it. Research continues to find relevance, education and cost as barriers, and this report is no exception.
Additionally as other previous reports have noted, this one also finds that broadband access is key to job creation and employment opportunities, a critical need in communities of color where unemployment numbers are staggeringly high.
“The issue isn’t funding, its commitment,” said study co-author Gus West, Chairman of the Board of The Hispanic Institute, in a press release. “Broadband is one more opportunity for America to bring people of color into the economic mainstream at the beginning by making sure that every citizen has the same access to the Internet and the opportunities it provides.”
A PDF of the report is available online, was filed with the Federal Communications Commission as a public comment under the National Broadband Plan Docket. The Hispanic Institute and the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies also provided data to support the report’s recommendations.”
Category: News | Tags: broadband
About the Author Lesly Simmons is a freelance writer and interactive communications and events specialist based in San Francisco, California.
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Great comments and feedback, and I agree with most of this–there are a lot of groups gathering data and talking, but the issues are not new. This is the digital divide of the 90s wrapped in the new language of broadband access. For many of these organizations, the administration's commitment of so much money to address access and adoption was a wakeup call that they need to be on record with their $.02 on the issue. But there are far fewer groups that have been actually working with communities to educate on the benefits of access. At this point we know the statistics–we need to hear more about solutions to improve them.
Whether you define it as ADOPTION or Access, the bottom line is a large majority of people within urban and rural communities (specifically baby boomers) are not adopting broadband or accessing it even though the majority of inner cities have broadband in public libraries and the occasional Community Technology Center (CTC). So clearly the problem runs deeper than just policy and funding if broadband is available in 92% of the country and people still aren't adopting. Perhaps it’s also a mindset that we're battling here..
I've seen it first hand working in the trenches since 2003.. I've taught basic computing classes in CTSs and worked 1-on-1 with people in the inner city at CTCs and many (speaking of baby boomers) don't want broadband, or understand why they need computing skills or need to switch from how they used to do things to using all of this rapidly changing technology. Quite frankly it scares many of them because they don’t understand it..
I agree with @Calvin, instead of all this pontificating, get out there in the trenches and do your part. But at the end of the day, this effort will be a waste of time and funding if members of underrepresented communities mindset toward broadband and computing is not changed. Because at the end of the day we would be providing a group of people access to something that they don’t want, understand, or can afford..
Mike
http://www.blackdigerati.org
Suggested Reading:
Broadband Now! So Why Don’t Some Use It? By Randall Stross of NYTimes
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/18/business/18di…
Great comments and feedback, and I agree with most of this–there are a lot of groups gathering data and talking, but the issues are not new. This is the digital divide of the 90s wrapped in the new language of broadband access. For many of these organizations, the administration's commitment of so much money to address access and adoption was a wakeup call that they need to be on record with their $.02 on the issue. But there are far fewer groups that have been actually working with communities to educate on the benefits of access. At this point we know the statistics–we need to hear more about solutions to improve them.
Whether you define it as ADOPTION or Access, the bottom line is a large majority of people within urban and rural communities (specifically baby boomers) are not adopting broadband or accessing it even though the majority of inner cities have broadband in public libraries and the occasional Community Technology Center (CTC). So clearly the problem runs deeper than just policy and funding if broadband is available in 92% of the country and people still aren't adopting. Perhaps it’s also a mindset that we're battling here..
I've seen it first hand working in the trenches since 2003.. I've taught basic computing classes in CTSs and worked 1-on-1 with people in the inner city at CTCs and many (speaking of baby boomers) don't want broadband, or understand why they need computing skills or need to switch from how they used to do things to using all of this rapidly changing technology. Quite frankly it scares many of them because they don’t understand it..
I agree with @Calvin, instead of all this pontificating, get out there in the trenches and do your part. But at the end of the day, this effort will be a waste of time and funding if members of underrepresented communities mindset toward broadband and computing is not changed. Because at the end of the day we would be providing a group of people access to something that they don’t want, understand, or can afford..
Mike
http://www.blackdigerati.org
Suggested Reading:
Broadband Now! So Why Don’t Some Use It? By Randall Stross of NYTimes
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/18/business/18di…
Why is it that whenever a minority organization provides its honest beliefs on how to best serve minority communities through broadband empowerment or speaks out on broadband-related issues – especially those touching net neutrality – they are routinely disrespected by so-called “progressive” consumer groups? These self-righteous Poindexters routinely accuse minority groups of being in the pockets of any company that has ever provided any charitable support to minority communities. I’m so tired of seeing the same smear appear over and over.
Well let’s turn the tables. How exactly is Free Press funded? On the posts you’ve made on Black Web 2.0, you call into question the motivations and funding sources of all minority groups, whether they are civil rights leaders or legislators or local elected officials. Who contributes the funds to your organization? Help me understand whose interests you are really trying to protect. Tell me why it is wrong for companies to support minority communities and minority entrepreneurs?
As I understand it, organizations like Free Press claim they raise money mainly from their members. From my experience, organizations like Free Press are comprised primarily of the upper middle class, well to do, and digitally connected. These organizations often brag about how they don’t accept corporate donations. It’s easy to criticize underserved communities who accept charitable contributions when you have the digitally connected ready, willing and ABLE to fund your efforts at the click of a mouse. This self-righteous indignation of yours does nothing to eradicate the digital divide.
The civil rights and minority groups you complain about have a demonstrated track record, over many generations, of improving the lives of all Americans. What have you and your compatriots accomplished for any of the communities you declare you care so much about? What are your own hiring practices? What about your organizations’ charitable giving record? Given out any scholarships lately? Provided computers or Internet access to low-income families? Taught digital literacy and online entrepreneurship courses? Or do you just sit on your computer all day long, soaking up the benefits of your broadband connection, not really doing anything to make sure that the underserved or unserved Americans, who have yet to adopt broadband technology, have the same opportunities you seem to relish so much right now?
Stop complaining and get out there and do something. If you want a paper trail to follow, let’s start with your own.
Call me mistaken, but the last time I checked, everyone who has access to the Internet knows it. Now, whether they choose to take advantage of the services or can afford them are different issues entirely, but broadband providers have never been shy about publicizing their service areas.
On top of that, the statement that 40% of Americans are “unable to bridge the digital divide” is disingenuous if you tie it only to broadband access issues. In the case of the 54% of African Americans and 37% of Americans generally who lack broadband Internet in their homes, adoption, not access, tends to be the primary issue. The federal government itself, from the FCC to the Obama Administration notes that broadband is accessible to more than 90% of Americans living in our country today. Not sure what studies you’re referring to, or how you’re defining broadband, but by typical standards, ADOPTION, not access is the bigger hurdle we face in bridging the digital divide.
I think it’s shameful to issue baseless attacks at the minority legislative groups, who for decades have worked tirelessly to promote the interests of African American, Hispanic American, Native American and Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. These groups have advocated for our civil rights long before we were even born. How presumptuous can you be to assume that because they are trying to ensure universal broadband access and close the digital divide that they have been bought and sold by anyone. Here’s a thought, just because someone’s opinions differ from yours, it doesn’t mean that those opinions are wrong, invalid or somehow ill-conceived. And considering that any federal plans to implement a National Broadband Plan will, of necessity, have to be done in collaboration with these same leaders, if you really care about closing the digital divide, you’d do better to reach out to them and better understand their communities, rather than attack them with recycled rhetoric.
We have a long way to go to achieve our mutual goals of broadband access to all, and it’s a task that we must address collectively. Don’t fool yourself into believing that any one side has the total right answer. For my part, I definitely think the legislators were on the right track with this report, and they should be commended for their efforts and the decision to work together on this important issue.
“While actual access to connect with broadband services is an issue in some parts of the country, broadband is available in 92% of the country, yet only two-thirds of the majority population with access to broadband actually uses it. “
Not only do many members of the urban community (especially baby boomers) have access to broadband and not know it (e.g. public library, community technology centers (CTCs), many don't want broadband or see the benefits of having access. They can’t or refuse to connect the dots.. Change is hard for many people, especially members from an earlier generation (many disenfranchised) who grew up without modern technology and are used to doing things a certain way, now literally being forced to adapt or be left behind..
For example, my father is way behind when it comes to his skill level navigating online and doing basic tasks in Microsoft Word (he just learned over Christmas how to attach a word doc to an email), all of which has affected is job prospects. This issue goes deeper than just getting people access to broadband (especially for baby boomers).. They also need training on how to use this technology, which Community Technology Centers (CTCs) have played a great part in doing for decades, but many of them are finding it difficult (in this economic climate) to get the funding they need from the government and corporations to stay afloat..
The broadband issue has never been about funding and I agree with @jordanbergpower it is sad.. At the end of the day it’s about the money for many legislators on Capitol Hill and the telecom companies, not about making sure people in the urban and rural communities don’t become a permanent underclass. If it were really about the people we still wouldn’t be discussing the digital divide at the same level (it seems sometimes) they were discussing it back in the 90’s.
Mike
Founder Black Digerati & Digerati Labs
http://www.blackdigerati.org
40% of Americans unable to bridge the digital divide would be very surprised to find out that they have access and if they only knew what it was.
Its actually pretty offensive and more proof that these legislators are bought and sold for by telecommunication lobbyists.
The study that says that 92% of Americans have access is done by Verizon and Comcast to ward off complaints that they have been redlining people of color and rural communities.
Every reliable study puts the level much lower for credible broadband access.
The truth is as our government and the UN studies have shown America's broadband is slower than any other developed country, unaffordable as the more expensive then all of Europe and Asia and we have dropped to 12th in adoption.
Sad that when we need real solutions for our community this is what legislators and telecommunication front groups bring us.