I got two very interesting articles today from two very different soruces. I want to thank Mike Horwath for the article from Ars Technica – Why don’t Americans want broadband? And I want to thank Ann Higgins for a link to a recent article from Digital Communities – Print Media an Endangered Species.

Ars Technica makes a good point – a recent report from the NTIA and others shows that many people who don’t get broadband don’t because they don’t see the value. Programs such as the Blandin MIRC project are working to help non-users appreciate what they are missing and find ways that broadband can improve their lives. But for many people who aren’t online – value is a big reason.

I wish that Digital Communities’ article provided an answer – that maybe we should want broadband because that’s going to be the only way to get news – but I don’t think it does. However I think it makes the case that maybe we ought to care for people. More and more services – in the public and private sector are moving online – and eventually legacy methods of service, such as paper newspapers will become extinct.

At that point it will cost everyone to continue to serve folks who aren’t on broadband. Government service will be obliged to try to provide ubiquitous services – but it will be costly.

The newspaper have no obligation – but once the newspaper dies – folks will need alternative access to news to remain (or maybe become) active citizens. And if we want active citizens, we will have to make it easy – and that will mean online access.

It seems to make sense to invest in digital inclusion now – both in terms of access and adoption rather than get to a point where we’re paying a premium to reach the reach divide or run the risk of leaving folks behind.