The participation of business in the U.S. to close to the digital divide is based on both social obligation and corporate self-interest. As with Canada, many businesses make some level of contribution at the local and national levels, but there appears to be greater involvement by large, well-heeled national corporations in the U.S. Again, the types of initiatives vary widely based on the needs of the recipients and the interest of the companies. For example, the Fleet Bank started offering home computers with Internet access to low-income customers. It also provides in-house tutors, and support for community content development. This package also includes on-line banking software. EBay has established a partnership with SeniorNet to bring over one million seniors on-line. Numerous other consortiums and partnerships between business and non-profits provide computers, training, staff support, software, and content development, among other forms of support. ²⁸

One interesting model is the Community Collaborative Fund in California. Established as part of regulatory approval for a merger, Verizon Communications provides a portion of its merger savings to the fund. The expected value of the fund is US$25 billion. This program is interesting because it is administered by community groups at a regional level, instead of being a “top-down” program, In general, top-down programs have been criticized at times by community groups as being too blunt or generic in approach. Community groups apply to the fund for grants. This approach has the potential to be very responsive to the particular needs of local communities because of the close involvement of community interests at the granting level; NGO’s are represented in the management of the fund. The fund will direct money to programs in California that provide access to ICT services, education, telemedicine, literacy, economic development in low income, ethnic minority and disabled communities. There is no parallel to this kind of regulatorybased public benefits program resulting from mergers in the communication industry in Canada.²⁹

²⁸ "E-Bay partners with SeniorNet", digitaldivide@list.benton.org, September 26, 2000; "Fleet Bank Premiers Community Link Initiative", digitaldivide@list.benton.org, December 6, 2000.
²⁹ "Verizon, Community Groups Launch $25 million Fund to Benefit Underserved Californians", digitaldivide@list.benton.org, January 11, 2001.