The Importance of Bridging the Digital Divide in America
Pseftis Angelis
Ethics in Information Technology
Professor Jean M Mc Kenzie
University of Maryland University College
Abstract
Years ago people said the world was flat. Later this theory was disproved when Magellan circumvented the world in 1522. In America the expression “the world is flat” relates to us all by connecting the world to us through the use of the internet. With the internet and technology connecting all of us, it is increasingly important that people have access to the internet so they too can participate in the world around them. Technology has curved the way we live our lives on a daily basis. Social media, elections, bill paying, communication, leisure entertainment and education are all done or can be done through the use of the internet. For example, teachers use technology for educational purposes giving the kids access to use computers, smartphones, tablets and the internet to search and expand the resources from what the school has to offer. Research has proven that schools and communities that have access to the internet and computers average an income $30,000 higher than those that don’t. This is the metaphorical gap we need to bridge in the United State of America. The goal is to ensure 100% of our country has access to the internet with the skills they need to utilize it and understand its capabilities.
The Importance of Bridging the Digital Divide in America
The term “digital divide” is often used to discuss the connectivity gap among distinct regions and demographics throughout the world. Rarely has this topic been the headline in any major newspaper here in America. In a nation that was founded on progress and equality why is it that only 71% of Americans actually subscribed to broadband at home? (Council, 2013) The digital divide is the gap between those people who can access and make effective use of the Internet (as well as other technologies) and those who cannot. This divide is manifest primarily by socio-economic factors. In terms of political activism, US economics and awareness, this fact has important ramifications.
How the Digital gap affects the American people
The digital divide – the widening gap between people who can use computers and the Internet to advance themselves, and those who, because of “poverty, education, or other barriers, cannot” – offers some unique financial and ethical challenges (Fallows, 2000).
In America the expression “the world is flat” (Friedman, 2005) relates to us all by connecting the world to us through the use of the internet. With the internet and technology connecting all of us, it is increasingly important that people have access to the internet so they too can participate in the world around them. Technology has curved the way we live our lives on a daily basis. Social media, elections, bill paying, communication, leisure entertainment and education are all done or can be done through the use of the internet. For example, teachers use technology for educational purposes giving the kids access to use computers, smartphones, tablets and the internet to search and expand the resources from what the school has to offer. Research has proven that schools and communities that have access to the internet and computers average an income $30,000 higher than those that don’t. So why don’t more Americans have access to the internet? In 2011 Office of Science and Technology Policy & The National Economic Council (NTIA & ESA) report said that nearly half of all households that didn’t have broadband speeds said that it was due to lack of interest. “This was especially true for older
Americans; 68 percent of Americans 65 years or older were likely to express no need or interest in using the Internet at home, compared to 21 percent of people between the ages of 16 and 44.” (Council, 2013)
Affordability
The second most cited reason for households not adopting broadband is affordability. With prices of internet access ranging from $35.00 a month to $300.00 a month it’s understandable why with 18% of the households annual income above 50,000 and 43% below 25,000 dollars a year. These numbers make it safe to assume that if we as a nation are able to bridge the digital gap in America that the 43% of the population that makes $25,000 annually could increase their annual income.
Uneven adoption of ethnic groups
The number of households that have access to broadband speeds can be directly related to education. “For example, home broadband adoption among those with at least a college degree (88%) is more than double that of those who did not complete high school (35%); 50 percentage points separate broadband use of households with annual incomes exceeding $100,000 from those with incomes below $25,000 (93% compared to 43%). A larger percentage of urban dwellers use broadband at home (72%) than rural residents (58%), while Asians (81%) and
Whites (74%) have adopted broadband at home to a greater extent than Hispanics (56%) and African Americans (55%).” (Council, 2013) This break down within our own country bring a lot of questions into light like who has the ethical responsibility to bridge this gap?
Why is the digital gap such a huge ethical issue in the IT world?
Information poverty is rarely blamed as a direct cause of suffering, clean water, lack of food or any other major world topic. It can be assumed that if the digital gap is bridged some of these world epidemics can be met with a weapon in the hand by every man woman and child. The ethical issues relating to the digital divide are clearly marked and open but are not address due to the severity of this topic. Infrastructure, language, education and economics are just some of the ethical issues relating to the digital divide in the IT world. (Chen, 2014)
Infrastructure
The infrastructure by which individuals, households, businesses, and communities connect to the Internet refers to the physical mediums that people use to connect to the Internet such as “desktop computers, laptops, cell phones, iPods or other MP3 players, Xboxes or PlayStations, electronic book readers, and tablets such as iPads.” (Zickuhr, 2011) This need for infrastructure was met in 2009 when the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This law designated approximately $7.2 billion in investments which would expand broadband access throughout the nation.
Language and Education
Now that most of America has the ability to access the internet at amazing speeds why are more people not doing it? As mentioned above a lot of Americans over the age of 44 have a hard time understanding what is happening when they are online. The ethical issue relating to this who is responsible for providing education so that more Americans feel comfortable on the internet? Schools have adopted the use technology for educational purposes giving the kids access to use computers, smartphones, tablets and the internet to search and expand the resources from what the school has to offer. This is helping the younger generation but not really effecting our older generation. The government and private business need to come up with a solution to this dilemma. Not only will it improve the lives of the Americans but increase revenue.
Overcoming the Digital Divide: What Needs to Happen?
The digital divide as a whole is a massive topic that spans and interacts within a plethora of subtopics. The major issues of race, education and poverty are just the tip of the iceberg. There are a lot of programs and organization out there that are attempting to bridge this gap. These organizations have similar foundations but none of them incorporate the full spectrum picture on what needs to happen.
Universal Access
Companies and the government should work together in bridging the gap by covering all of America with internet access. Special laws and tax breaks should be in place to reward companies that offer a hotspot for the public to access. This a tactic that countries like Germany and Korea use to ensure no matter where you go you are connected. Government programs
The Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC)
The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) is an independent, not-for-profit corporation. This program enables schools, libraries and rural health care providers with “network wiring and access to both telecommunications and Internet services.” (USAC, 2013)
The Neighborhood Networks Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
As a community based initiative, encourages the development of resource and computer learning centers in privately owned HUD-assisted and HUD-insured housing in order to make technology more accessible. This program also offers a range of services to include GED certifications as well as computer basic classes. The locations are also staffed with knowledgeable staff who can assist individuals with any IT concerns.
Private and Corporate & Nonprofit programs
Microsoft
Public libraries: In partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Microsoft will donate an estimated $200 million in software to create access to technology at public libraries that serve low-income communities. (Foundation, 2013) The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation currently have 4 different school related programs dealing within the boundaries of bridging the digital gap.
The Intel Computer Clubhouse
“This program is an after-school, community-based learning program that enables youth in underserved areas to access cutting-edge technology and become self-confident, motivated learners and leaders. The network is based on a learning model created by the Boston Museum of Science in collaboration with MIT Media Labs. Intel joined as the lead sponsor in 2000 and has invested more than $35.0 million in ICCN. The network has over 100 clubhouses in 20 countries, which provide over 25,000 youth access to technology.” (Intel, 2013)

Conclusion
The digital divide is manifested primarily by socio-economic factors. In terms of political activism, US economics and awareness. This problem we are facing in America won’t change overnight. The continuation of training of sells staff, students and users is an ongoing never ending task. As new technologies become public embraces it is up to everyone to stay current with the training related to those innovations. The internet isn’t a luxury it is a necessity that every American should have access to. It improves a households overall status economically and is a tool that should be used to empower the children of tomorrow. Our government has an inherent ethical responsibility to bridge the digital divide here in America. Out future as a nation will relay on the use of all the services the internet provides. It is up to everyone to accept progress and come up with a solution to resolve this epidemic.

Reference
Chen, W. (2014, Jan). The Implications of Social Capital for the Digital Divides in America. Information Society, Vol. 29(Issue 1), p13-25 13p. doi:10.1080/01972243.2012.739265
Council, O. o. (2013). Four years of Broadband Growth. Washington: The White House.
Fallows, J. (2000). The Invisible Poor. New York Times Magazine(149), 68.
Foundation, B. &. (2013, September 29). Bill-and-Melinda-Gates-Establish-Library-Foundation. Retrieved from gatesfoundation: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Media-Center/Press-Releases/1997/06/Bill-and-Melinda-Gates-Establish-Library-Foundation
Friedman, T. L. (2005). Excerpted from THE WORLD IS FLAT: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century. In T. L. Friedman, THE WORLD IS FLAT (pp. 363-367). Farrar, Straus and Giroux, LLC.
Intel. (2013, September 29). Intel Computer Clubhouse network. Retrieved from computer club house: http://www.computerclubhouse.org/
USAC. (2013, September 29). Schools and Libraries. Retrieved from Universal Service Administrative Company: http://www.sl.universalservice.org/menu.asp
Zickuhr, K. (2011). Generations and their gadgets. Pew Internet. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Generations-and-gadgets/Report/Desktop-and-Laptop-Computers.aspx

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[ 1 ]. The government commonly defines the “basic” speed for broadband at 3 Mbps downstream and 768 kbps upstream (3Mb/768kb), with some regulatory decisions defining basic service as 4
Mbps downstream and 1 Mbps upstream.2
[ 2 ]. On February 13, 2009, in direct response to the economic crisis and at the urging of President Obama, Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 -- commonly referred to as the "stimulus" or the "stimulus package." Four days later, the President signed the Recovery Act into law.
[ 3 ]. Funding Year 2013. USAC will release Funding Year (FY) 2013 Wave 20 Funding Commitment Decision Letters (FCDLs) October 2. This wave includes commitments for approved Priority 1 (Telecommunications Services and Internet Access) requests at all discount levels. As of September 27, FY2013 commitments total over $785 million and encompass 24,535 of FY2013 applications.
[ 4 ]. WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded over $28 million in grants to public housing authorities, resident associations, Indian tribes, and non-profit organizations across the nation to hire or retain service coordinators to help public housing residents find jobs and achieve economic and housing independence. More info can be found at http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2013/HUDNo.13-150