Y490 Politics of the Internet February 1, 2012

Digital Divide   Gap in computer and Internet use across various social groups   Who is included and who is excluded and what are the consequences?   How stable over time?   What should be done about it? video

Major Documents/Books/Reports   Falling Through the Net (1998) Falling Through the Net   Benjamin Compaine, Bridging the Digital Divide (2001) Benjamin Compaine   Pippa Norris, Digital Divide (2001) Pippa Norris   Jan van Dijk, The Deepening Divide (2005) Jan van DijkThe Deepening Divide

Barriers to Access: Jan Van Dijk and Joseph Hacker  Lack of elementary digital experience caused by lack of interest, computer anxiety, and unattractiveness of new technology (mental access)  Lack of material access  Lack of digital skills (skills access)  Lack of significant usage opportunities (usage access)

Individual-Level Barriers to Access Language Basic Literacy Electronic literacy

Demographic GroupInternet Use 1 Use of Broadband at Home 6 Age Americans 65 and over 42%30% %61% Education Attainment high school diploma69%52% less than a high school diplomas50%-- Disability Americans with disabilities 38% 2,4 -- Household Income less than $30,000 annual income60%-- $20,000-$30,00053% less than $20,000 annual income35% Race/Ethnicity Latinos in the US56% 5 -- Spanish-dominant Latinos in the US32% 5 -- African Americans67%46% Community Type Rural 65%46% US Digital Divide Statistics, 2009

Global Digital Divide: Key Variables Economic Development (GDP/person) Economic Development (GDP/person) Availability of telephones, computers Availability of telephones, computers Competition in telecom markets Competition in telecom markets Human capital formation Human capital formation Type of regime (authoritarian vs. democratic) Type of regime (authoritarian vs. democratic)

Map of Global Digital Divide

PC/Internet by Percapita Income

Computer Use (per 100 people) Internet Use (per 100 people) Developing Countries Least Developed Countries Arab States East Asia and the Pacific Latin America and the Caribbean South Asia Sub-Saharan Africa Central & Eastern Europe & CIS OECD High-income OECD Sources: World Development Report, 2006 and 2007.

Telephone Lines

Mobile Telephones

Internet Users

Broadband vs. Dial-Up Broadband accentuates the digital divide Broadband accentuates the digital divide Average monthly cost $40-45 is too high for many poor families Average monthly cost $40-45 is too high for many poor families Higher speeds translate into higher costs generally Higher speeds translate into higher costs generally Dial-up users limited in ability to create new content (vs. passive use of existing content) Dial-up users limited in ability to create new content (vs. passive use of existing content)

Broadband and Dial-Up,

Broadband by Income

Broadband by Education

Broadband by Age

Broadband by Gender

Reasons for Not Connecting via Broadband

Attitudes about Computers and the Internet in Four Countries

Getting Kids Connected

BroadbandCensus.com   The country needs to know where high- speed Internet service is available and where it isn't. And that is just the first step.   Next, consumers need to know the extent of broadband competition in their local area. They need to know the names of the carriers that offer broadband, the speeds they offer, and the prices they charge.   BroadbandCensus.com intends to fill this gap. BroadbandCensus.com

Broadband Data Improvement Act of 2008 (S. 1492)   Passed in the 110 th Congress and came into effect in   Requires the FCC to compile a list of geographical areas that are not served by any provider of advanced telecommunications services.   Mandates use of Census data to characterize each area by population, population density, and per capita income.   Requires FCC to publish international comparisons.

Broadband Technology Opportunities Program Part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009Part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to create of National Broadband Inventory MapNational Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to create of National Broadband Inventory MapNational Broadband Inventory MapNational Broadband Inventory Map Called for the creation of a National Broadband PlanCalled for the creation of a National Broadband PlanNational Broadband PlanNational Broadband Plan

Questions for Discussion   Does the digital divide matter?   What are the main causes of the global digital divide?   Do higher levels of Internet diffusion reduce the digital divide, either within or between countries?   Are there new digital divides opening up within developed countries?   Is the digital divide ever likely to narrow significantly?