Digital Divide

Many communities in the United States suffer from a digital divide. Simply put, many people do not have the means to use modern advances in communications technology. Some, but not all, reasons contributing to this are:

• No computer in the residence
• No computer training or digital literacy
• No availability of high speed services
• No affordable high speed services

People using dialup to access the Internet simply do not have a comparable experience to those using broadband. While many pages will still load for those in dialup, sites are increasingly now designed for those using faster connections and effectively lock out those on slower connections.

Children without access to broadband have fewer resources to help with homework and have fewer opportunities to explore subjects in which they are interested. Parents without access to broadband may find it harder to apply for jobs or government services.

Though online courses offer everyone an opportunity to improve themselves, such courses are difficult to take from the library or community center. A parent with small children find it difficult to get to the library to use the computers - especially on a winter evening following a hard day of work.

In order to ensure everyone has the opportunity to achieve the American Dream, we must work toward a St. Paul where everyone can have a computer with broadband access in their home, if they so choose.

Some local groups are already addressing these issues, but a community network will offer more tools to ensure everyone who desires access to these services will be able to.

A Community Fiber Network would bring more competition to St. Paul, which should lower prices while improving services. But with a community network, we would have the power of self-determination. We can subsidize broadband connections to those living below the poverty line or ensure that every household with children in school can subscribe to broadband. We will have the power to make key choices that will erode the digital divide. Prices will be set based on what the community needs, not to benefit distant shareholders.

The Minneapolis wireless network has a community benefits agreement that ensures revenues from the network support digital inclusion - creating a revenue source for efforts to make sure the whole community will benefit from the network. St. Paul should also dedicate a portion of funding from revenues to increase digital inclusion.

Libraries and community technology centers (CTCs), which will continue to play important roles in St. Paul's digital future, would also benefit from a community fiber network. In order to be effective, libraries and CTCs need access to very fast Internet connections. Community Fiber Networks offer faster connections at lower prices - partly because the technology is better and partly because they break the existing monopoly or duopoly that artificially inflate prices.