Yes, Internet Access is a Civil Right

In deference to international readers, I begin by saying that this post is specific to the situation in the United States; but I would love to hear responses both from readers here and abroad.

A reader writes:

Internet access is a civil right? Ha! That assertion just denigrates the passionate fights for real civil rights.

I appreciate this comment because it really made me think.

And I thought about what would happen if poor people were only allowed access to public radio if they paid a monthly fee. And I thought about what would happen if poor people were only allowed to watch public television if they paid a monthly fee. And then I wondered what would happen if poor people were only allowed to check books out of the public library if they paid a monthly fee. And what would happen if poor people were only allowed to go to public school if they paid a monthly fee.

Each of those institutions -- public radio, public television, public library, and public school -- comprise a facet of the intellectual life of all American citizens. To deny access to any of these on the basis of class, race, gender, etc, would not only devalue the potential of the citizenry, but would amount to an infringement of Civil Rights.

It should be no different with regard to access to the Internet.

We need a public system to provide and ensure access for all Americans regardless of where one lives or the ability to pay for a monthly service.

In this time when so many Americans are out of work, we are presented with the opportunity both to re-train and re-employ citizens and spread access throughout the country by means of a public works program for Internet connectivity and community training in digital literacy.

This would be tied to a push for computer manufacturers to step up and help equip all of our nation's schools with 1:1 computing at a reasonable and fair rate; the cost for this 1:1 initiative will be redirected from purchases of paper and printed resources.

The result would be guaranteed free universal Internet access for all Americans.

Yes, I believe firmly that Internet access is a Civil Right. And I welcome suggestions and debate on how to move forward on the issue of once and for all closing the digital divide.

Stat(s) of the Day

Stat of the Day: According to analysis of global Internet statistics by Miniwatts Marketing, the number of folks in Africa using the Internet grew from 4.5 million to about 66 million between the years 2000 and 2009.

That's a 1360% growth rate.

And yet that only touches less than 7% of the population of the continent.

What would the Net look like if we were able to reach those other 92% of the pop?

***

Oh, and another thought...

There are now more users of Facebook than there were users of the entire Internet worldwide nine years ago.

Shift.

Report on Minorities and Mobile Internet Access

An article worth reading over at Ars Technica concerning the recent Pew survey on race and mobile Internet devices.

And this report has to be good news for those hoping to put a more positive spin on the nation's progress in providing broadband for all Americans.

The Pew report notes big shifts in the way minorities are accessing the Internet. And it's got everything to do with handheld devices. I'll let you read how Ars breaks it down.

Soon, I'd like to see a report detailing usage by region. If there was one thing I noticed on my recent road trip through the American South was the use of Wi-Fi availability in rural areas as a marketing tool for everything from motels to restaurants to campsites.

[Addendum 8:50PM EST -- A commenter here recently remarked that the sorts of broad coverage platforms needed for mass access are often prohibitively expensive and somewhat limited in what they can offer. I'd love to hear from someone working in the wireless field or in mobile Internet: what does the future hold? In a 'perfect world' scenario, what would make the best sense? And what are the immediate obstacles?]

Are we getting closer to Internet access ubiquity? Are handhelds the key to ubiquity?

And if they are, then what does it mean when schools have policies banning cellphones and mobile devices?

The full report is available here from the Pew Internet and American Life Project.

A Crossroads in Rural Wi-Fi?

Ate dinner last night at a local Mexican restaurant in Crossville, Tennessee.

And one thing that came to mind was that I’ve been woefully inconsiderate of the digital realities in our rural communities.

Now, Crossville -- which bills itself as the 'Golf Capital of Tennessee' -- is relatively populated compared to some of the old mountain roads I got lost on finding the town. From the looks of it, the resorts and golf courses must bring in the bulk of the local economy; though from my view of the trees on the side of a mountain, I didn't get to see that part of town. Instead, I spent most of my time in the forest and in the gas stations and by local restaurants stealing Wi-Fi.

And I'm wondering what digital life is like for folks here in the dales of Tennessee. On the one hand, you can't pull into a truck-stop or a fastfood joint's parking lot without catching the local feed; but out there on the roads and in the hills, there's barely cell reception.

Through much of eastern TN, I was spotting signs for something related to a TN Tech something-or-other. I'd really like to know what that's all about. Because I think the rural Wi-Fi issue might even be more difficult to address than the digital divide in the underprivileged communities in our cities. At least in places like West Baltimore, folks are living close enough together that WiMax and similar coverage systems can get to all of ‘em.

But in the dales of rural Tennessee?

I’d love to hear from some teachers in really ‘off-the-map’ communities about issues facing their schools with regard to tech and especially to Wi-Fi access. I realize that I really don’t understand what’s happening here and I’m asking you for your voices and experiences.

I’m also understanding that ‘off-the-map’ is anything but a fair description of these communities. In Crossville last evening, there was a steel guitar concert going down at the main street theatre and though the old strip mall where we found the restaurant was full of check-cashing joints and a sub-par outlet grocer, the food and the service was top-notch.

If anything, I’m the one who’s been ‘off-the-map’.

- Written in Malvern, Arkansas 12:38AM July 16, 2009

Internet Access is a Human Right

ReadWriteWeb posted yesterday on the decision of the French Constitutional Council -- their High Court -- to declare Internet access a 'fundamental human right'.
Says RWW:

It's tempting to consider internet access a luxury, but consider the increased quality of life that comes with the huge jump in access to cultural and logistical information the internet brings. We think this is an important opportunity to think about expanding our understanding of human rights.

Exactly.

The discussion of Internet access 'rights' came up here on TeachPaperless back in March with regards to the allocation of Stimulus funds for educational technology. I stand by my post from back then:

I don't want 'nice proposals for challenge grants'. I want access for all. Internet access as a civil right. Now.

Exactly.

Grants vs. Rights

Concerning my post on the failure of the Stim to effectively address Ed Tech, a reader writes:

More than likely, the money is not set to be a small lump sum to each school; rather, the money will likely be set up to fund grants. Hopefully the challenge grants fund some nice proposals that can help to improve schools all around the country.

Let's talk reality: the Ed Tech budget was slashed. Had the originally proposed budget been accepted on Capitol Hill, we might have been able to put Web 2.0 technology in almost every seat in every classroom in almost every public school in this country.

Mobile Wi-Fi PDAs for each kid hooked into desktop monitors. Each preloaded with educational Web 2.0 apps. Every public school kid in this country connected to the Web. Internet access as a civil right. That's what we've missed out on.

With all due respect for the reader's position, I don't want 'nice proposals for challenge grants'. I want access for all. Internet access as a civil right. Now.

Good luck with the grant writing.