6.0
Selected International Initiatives to Close the Digital Divide
The shear number and diversity of innovative approaches undertaken to
address the digital divide at the national and sub-national levels in
other countries defies simple categorization and detailed description.
Like Canada, such initiatives exist at the levels of national or regional
governments, community and the private sector. The choice of approach
in other countries is informed by the social and economic objectives of
national governments, the needs of individuals and communities, and the
availability of resources. While selectively considering some activities
in other countries, this section focuses mainly on efforts in the United
States because of the comparable nature of the Canadian and the U.S. market
places; the development of the Internet; and the relative maturity of
access initiatives as compared with other countries. Both developed and
developing countries are involved in a host of initiatives in attempts
to close the various ‘digital divides’. While Canada continues
to be a leader in both access and addressing digital divide issues, this
overview may suggest other activities from elsewhere which may be of some
relevance to Canada.
An interesting common sub-theme that tends to emerge from the literature
is that while great efforts are being made, and many successes have been
realized, it is quite likely that many of the ‘divides’ will
not be completely closed. For example, in the context of access to and
the use of the Internet, even if broadband services were to be provided
to every individual, it would still not mean that people would have the
capacities, needs or interest to use the service. In some instances, such
lack of use will be by choice, in others it will be due to circumstances
that are obstacles for individuals (such as income, illiteracy), thereby
leaving a significant ‘have not’ component in society. For
example, through several initiatives in Seattle, United States, eighty-eight
per cent of citizens have access to computers and seventy-six per cent
have access to the Internet from home, with the remainder accessing from
CTC’s work. However, connecting the remainder of people is considered
to be a major challenge with the risk that with the majority of citizens
connected, those remaining unconnected will now be at a greater disadvantage
and marginalization both for Internet access and in their ability to use
information and communication technologies (ICT) in work and other life
activities.20
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