The Institute on Race & Poverty (IRP) has just released its latest report, Digital Justice: Progress Towards Digital Inclusion in Minnesota, which makes the connection between access to the Internet and access to life opportunities such as living-wage jobs. The report highlights many instances in which institutions are striving to bridge the digital gaps and bring opportunity to more people.
While the report is heavily focused on Minneapolis and does not exclusively look at the impact of broadband, there are some very interesting points for the Get Broadband communities. The report follows closely the process that Minneapolis has gone through to provide wireless access throughout the city, pointing out that community organizing and leadership from the City has led to Internet benefits that have not necessarily been provided in communities where there was no concerted effort from the city (or local community) to provide access. (Minneapolis elected to contract with a private vendor to provide Citywide services. Learn more from the Minneapolis Wireless web site.)
The report also takes a look at access on reservations, which may hit upon some of the issues that other rural communities have. One astute observation that certainly describes other rural areas, “As a result of the variation among different reservations, there is not one fixed solution to improve access on all Minnesota reservations.”
When I was asked to write the preface to this report I thought about what’s been missing in the debates about internet and telecommunications policy.
What’s been missing is the acknowledgment that as a democracy, we need to be vigilant in ensuring that people have the means and know-how to use the information tools of our day to stay informed and to conduct their work and life. That is what we should hold dear as we make decisions about the business interests of information and communications technology.
Thanks for your perspective it’s very helpful. I agree completely – access means ability to use as well as being within reach. I see some of this at the schools where you can see who has access to the Internet and who doesn’t — and my kids are still pretty young. And my firsthand perspective is one classroom wide – I can only imagine the difference it makes on a state, national, and international scope.