LISC Chicago's director comments on bridging the digital divide in communities
9 Aug 2010 - Andrew Mooney
Andrew Mooney of Chicago LISC writes about the digital divide and what is being done to bring digital access to Chicago neighborhoods.
Excerpt
While signs of an economic recovery are increasing, it's time not to relax but to consider how to create a firm footing for the nation's long-term financial health. The digital revolution has completely altered the landscape. Not only are the fastest-growing industries all tech-related, even the smallest businesses will have to be tech-savvy to survive, as marketing, as well as basic information, are increasingly Internet-based. Companies without sophisticated Web identities or access will be at a significant disadvantage.The new reality has particular import for Chicago and all other urban centers. While cities are the centers of the nation's most tech-savvy institutions and residents, their continued primacy in the world economy can only be protected if there is sufficient digital access and literacy to compete effectively with nations, such as South Korea and Japan, where both are widespread.
Yet neither is assured. A study released last fall by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Aspen Institute estimates that 40% of Americans lack broadband access. The Federal Communications Commission refers to this as the “digital divide”—where those on the wrong side face a civic and economic disadvantage as the Web becomes the dominant forum for information and engagement.
> Read the full Crain's article
> Visit the Chicago LISC website
Article Type: News