The E-rate and the Digital Divide ... / You can help

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Date: Thu, 2 Dec 2004 16:39:34 EST

Apologizes for cross posting please read this and if you can, contact
congress. The information for contact is at the bottom of this letter if=20
you choose
to help us. Please pass this letter on to any others who may be able to=
 assist
us.


Dear Friends,


There are a lot of people who are surprised that Congress rolled back their
support of educational technology.  I was not surprised since I live in
Washington DC and attend many interesting meetings.  There is a perception=
=20
within the
government that technology is ubiquitous.  We all have it.  All of our
schools have been equipped, networked, and connected to the Internet.

The first assertion to lead to this erroneous conclusion was that there is=
 no
longer a digital divide. Let me tell you that the digital divide still=
 exists.

Digital Divide?

"Since it was coined in the mid-1990s, the term 'digital divide' has mostly
been used to describe the gap between those who have 'ever' and those who=
 have
'never' used a computer or the Internet. But as technology and its role in=
 our
society evolve, the concept of what constitutes access is evolving, too."

"There is basic access: young people's ability to get to a wired computer
somewhere, at some time. Then there is quality of access: some homes have
high-speed of access: some homes have high-speed connections that make it=20
easy to
view graphics and download documents, while others have much slower=
 "dial-up"
connections; and some schools have wired computers in each classroom, while
others have only a few for the whole student body to share. There is the=20
level of
technological literacy: the degree to which young people know what they are
doing online, how many applications they know how to use, and how easily=20
they can
learn new ones.

And there is access to useful content: the information and software they=
 need
the information and software they need to do their schoolwork, protect their
health, or find a job. Put these together, and the resulting definition of
access is much more meaningful-but nearly not as easy to turn into a sound
bite-as whether a child has ever used the Internet."=86
However the current digital divide is defined, education policy experts and
advocates generally agree that increasing technology access for=
 disadvantaged
children is a worthy educational goal.  A natural evolution from policies
focused on major infrastructure investments, such as wiring the nation's=20
schools
and libraries for the Internet, would be to integrate online access into=
 other
educational objectives.

Currently the government is focused on political policies aimed at utilizing
technology to help children learn, develop, and succeed in the workforce.
Where education policy and political policy differ is in how to define the
significance of the current divide and what role the federal government=20
should play
in narrowing it.

"Computers are increasingly conditioning the kind of country we live in.
DIGITAL DIVIDE shines a light on the role computers play in widening social=
=20
gaps
throughout our society, particularly among young people. By providing=20
equitable
and meaningful access to technology we can ensure that all children step=
 into
the 21st Century together."=87
What is "digital equity"?

"Digital equity is the social-justice goal of ensuring that everyone in our
society has equal access to technology tools, computers and the Internet.=
 Even
more, it is when all individuals have the knowledge and skills to access and
use technology tools, computers and the Internet...According to recent=20
research
by the National Center for Educational Statistics, 98% of schools and 77% of
instructional rooms have computers and are connected to the Internet. But=
 many
classrooms and important educational projects are not connected, and these
educators are deprived of excellent Internet-based resources."=C2=A7

We made good progress in the past, and now it is the time to finish the job.
First we must determine where we are in demolishing the digital divide and
establishing digital equity.  Ask yourself, are the inner city, Amerindian,=
=20
and
rural communities participating on a technological par with the rest of the
nation.

I think not.

Bonnie Bracey
http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/ringleaders/bonnie.html
__________

Digital Divide
http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/Teachers/digitaldivide.html
Children, The Digital Divide, And Federal Policy
<http://www.kff.org/entmedia/loader.cfm?url=3D/commonspot/security/getfile.c=
fm&PageID=3D46360>
Digital Divide
http://www.pbs.org/digitaldivide/
Digital Equity Toolkit
http://nici-mc2.org/de_toolkit/pages/toolkit.htm



It is important to save the E-rate, I hope you will do something to let the
congress know that we are still in need of the E-rate.


Please contact the Senator or Congressman from your state of residence.

You will find a list of contact information for United States Senators at
http://www.senate.gov, and for United States Congressmen at=20
http://www.house.gov.



Talking Points ( see the letter above and then perhaps the talking points)

The House passed H.R. 5419 on November 20, 2004 by unanimous consent.  When
Congress reconvenes next week, we urge the Senate to take up and pass H.R.=
=20
5419
and clear this time-sensitive legislation for enactment in 2004.

H.R. 5419 responds to three key and immediate challenges =AD
Enhancing and improving America's 9-1-1emergency calling system;
Protecting critical Department of Defense and other government=
 communications
capabilities while delivering additional spectrum for commercial uses; and
Preventing dramatic increases in Universal Service charges to consumers, and
providing critical access to the Internet for our nation's schools.


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