The digital divide is real. Too many low income black families are falling behind in education and employment opportunities due to the prohibitive costs of computers and Internet access. This lack of access to technology and information has created an underclass of people who are digitally absent in our society. This is not news and is not necessary.
African-American children without Internet access in the home fall behind their classmates in educational achievement. As they get older and enter the job market they are behind the curve in computer skills. This limits the jobs that they can successfully apply. Its a trap for poverty.
According to Cheapinternet.com 29 million households in the U.S. have school age children. Five million of those families lack high-speed Internet service. The lion’s share of that 5 million are low-income black and Hispanic households.
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said, “School-aged kids without broadband access at home are not only unable to complete their homework , they enter the job market with a serious handicap,” she said. “And that loss is more than individual. It’s a loss to the collective human capital and shared economic future that we need to address.”
But there are bridges across the digital divide. There are companies focusing on providing affordable Internet access to the economically disadvantaged.
EveryoneOn.org is a nonprofit organization who’s mission is providing Internet access to all. The company has offices in Washington, D.C and Los Angeles and are working to “leverage the democratizing power of the Internet to provide opportunity to all Americans regardless of age, race, geography, income, or education level.”
Everyoneon.org provides economically disadvantaged families with affordable computers and access to free computer classes. The company believes that all people should be equally connected. They add: “Through partnerships with leading Internet providers and device refurbishers EveryoneOn is able to offer options of home Internet service for $10 or less a month and $150 computers for low-income individuals and families.”
Basic-Internet.com has partnered with EveryoneOn to provide the badly needed Internet connection. Consumers have two plans to choose from for mobile access.
First is the $10 a month plan providing for 1.2 GB of data at a 4G speed, then unlimited data at 3G once the 1.2GB runs out. The second plan offers a $20 a month plan for 3.2GB at the 4G speed then unlimited again at 3G.
However affordable the plan is the customer must still buy the Wi-Fi device and that could cost as much as $75. But that is a one time purchase.
But just having an Internet connection falls short of having the skills to use the technology. EveryoneOn offers educational information on its website that will help the consumer to learn how to use email, find health information, educational resources, financial literacy and job hunting resources.
Many poor families find the price of a computer can be beyond their reach. Thankfully there are resources than can provide refurbished computer at affordable prices.
Angie’s Angel Help Network provides a listing of computer providers for low income families and people with disabilities. Organizations are listed nationally and state by state.
Long before the days of the Civil Rights movement black people have always known that education is the key to escaping poverty. Now in the information the struggle is to gain access to information. The information super-highway need not have excessive tolls.
For more information on affordable Internet access please visit Cheapinternet.com to find a listing of companies.
Now you know.
See also; Obama Unveils ConnectHome to Get Low Income Households Online.
Economic, Racial Digital Divide Creates Larger Education Gap Nationwide
