Why We Must Act Now on Universal Internet Access and the Digital Divide

High speed Internet is essential for economic growth and global competitiveness. The United States – the country that invented the Internet – has fallen from 1st to 15th in high-speed Internet penetration. High-tech innovation, job growth, telemedicine, distance learning, rural development, public safety, and e-government require truly high-speed, universal networks.

Governmental action – in partnership with the private sector – is essential to stimulate broadband investment and adoption. Other countries are far ahead of us – it is time for the U.S. to take action.

High Speed Internet Access Policy

We are falling behind because the United States is the only industrialized country without a national policy to promote high speed Internet access. Instead, we have relied on a hodge-podge of fragmented government programs and uneven private sector responses to changing markets, leaving us with a gaping digital divide.

The Digital Divide

The digital divide leaves a large slice of our citizens without high speed Internet access, and some without Internet access at all. Those who “go without” are left out of the potential advantages of high speed Internet access in areas as diverse as education and health, to civic participation and staying up on the news. Universal Internet access would ensure that everyone has the chance to reap the benefits of high speed Internet access, and that no one is forced to remain on the wrong side of the digital divide.

Universal Internet Access

As high speed Internet access is seen more and more as a vital utility, such as water or electric services, those without these services available to them are left stranded in the digital divide. A policy to make universal Internet access a priority would improve the ability for us to close the digital divide by leaps and bounds.

It is now time for the United States to adopt a comprehensive universal Internet access policy to ensure that we all benefit from the telecommunications and information revolution. Throughout our history we have been able to benefit from major technological advances because we adopted national policies to ensure the widespread and equitable deployment of those technologies. In the 19th century we adopted policies to develop canals and a national railroad system. In the 20th century we instituted policies to develop national telephone and highway systems.

In the 21st century, we need to have a national, universal high speed Internet access policy.