FC: "Digital divide" not even a virtual reality --oped

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

***********

From: Sonia Arrison <sarrison () pacificresearch org>
To: "'declan () well com'" <declan () well com>
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 17:28:42 -0800

March 12, 2000

   The U.S. 'Digital Divide'
   Is Not Even A Virtual
   Reality

     Why Should We Pay To Get More Americans
    Online When High-Tech Companies Are Already
              Doing It On Their Own?

       By Helen Chaney, Pacific Research Institute
                 FROM Bridge News

   SAN FRANCISCO - Under President Clinton's
   recently announced $2-billion technology plan, the
   government will siphon dollars from the pockets of
   taxpayers to offer high-tech companies tax incentives to
   help bridge the so-called digital divide.

   But market forces are already pulling the masses onto
   the Internet with speed and efficiency that no
   government program could ever match.

   A government study released in the summer of 1999 had
   the media,  politicians and public spinning over the
   ever-widening gulf separating the technology haves from
   have-nots.

   The foreboding image of a digital divide in the categories
   of race, gender, age, location and geography was
   splashed all over the front pages of newspapers and
   unsurprisingly found its way into the speeches of
   politicians.

   But with all of the excitement over this new issue, hardly
   anyone noticed that the government report was based
   on information from surveys taken in 1998 and earlier.

   By the time the Commerce Department released the
   report, more current market research was available,
   revealing the divide had already narrowed considerably.

   And we all know that Internet time is like dog years, one
   year is equivalent to a decade. The government's report
   warned of a "racial ravine," where whites dominate the
   new medium.

   But data from a more current 1999 Forrester Research
   survey shows both Asians and Hispanics beat whites as
   the most likely to be wired to the Internet.

   And as much as some politicians and special interest
   groups would like us to believe, the digital divide may
   not really be about race, gender or geography. Maybe it
   has more to do with government desire to establish and
   control a spoils system.

   With numerous private sector access initiatives already
   in place, there's no need for taxpayers to subsidize
   wealthy companies' community works and donations.

   High-tech firms have their own reasons for joining the
   digital crusade. Just as phone companies give away free
   cell phones to get consumers hooked on their service, so
   will tech firms provide free computers, Internet access
   and educational programs.

   Technology companies like America Online, Microsoft
   and AT&T have already invested heavily in getting
   Americans of all stripes online. AOL is partnering with
   Wal-Mart to bring low-cost Internet access to
   Wal-Mart's 100 million weekly customers.

   Microsoft has been running its "Giving Programs" since
   1983, bringing the benefits of information technology to
   people and communities that do not have access. And in
   July 1999, AT&T donated $1.42 million to further
   technology education in underserved communities.

   This all goes to show the private sector has it covered.
   What is required from the government now is not
   money, but patience. After all, Internet access has
   spread to 50 million people in only four years.

   That's about nine times faster than radio, four times
   faster than the personal computer and three times faster
   than television.

   At this rate, it won't be long until all of those who desire
   Internet access will have it. If the government wants to
   spread Internet access, they should leave the Internet
   unregulated and ease up on the taxes individuals pay.

   This will give all Americans the means to make their own
   choices about technology. For some, the extra cash
   could provide the means for them to log on for the first
   time.

        HELEN CHANEY is a policy fellow at the
        San Francisco-based Pacific Research
        Institute. Her views are not necessarily
        those of Bridge News,  whose ventures
        include the Internet site
        www.bridge.com. 

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