The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

The "Information Revolution" is transforming the economic, social, political and cultural life of America. But, not all Americans have shared the benefits of progress. A "Digital Divide" persists between those who have the training and access to technology that enable them to take advantage of the Internet and other new engines of progress, and those who are unable to take full advantage of the jobs and benefits available in the new economy. For those on the right side of the Divide, the information age will bring unprecedented empowerment and opportunity. But, for those on the wrong side, there is evidence that much-vaunted technological advances may aggravate existing patterns of inequality.

A recent Commerce Department study entitled "Falling Through the Net: Toward Digital Inclusion" highlighted the extent, and racial face, of the digital divide.1 New technological advances have always first reached — will always first reach — wealthy persons. But, our collective futures demand that we breach the Divide and bring the advantages of the new economy to those who may not be able to first afford it.

LCCR urges the Administration to put its full support behind programs and policies that expand access to, and the benefits of, the new technology to all Americans. Among the best of these programs are those that encourage public-private partnerships designed to serve lowincome areas. These, and other needed initiatives, include:

• Community Technology Centers: Congress has authorized the establishment of these Centers to assist individuals in low-income communities — disproportionately minorities — to utilize new technologies, but funding is insufficient to meet current needs.
• Support for School and Library Technology Programs including discounted hardware, software and telecommunications services through full funding for the e-rate discount program; in-classroom computer training; and teacher training in education technology. The reauthorization of the ESEA must address these concerns. Any tax package supported by the Administration should include incentives for corporations to donate computers and other resources to low income schools.
• Promote Home Computer Ownership and Internet Access through discounted rates in underserved communities. This should be incorporated into any tax package supported by the Administration.
• Technologies for People with Disabilities: The federal government should work with the disability community to identify barriers to computer and Internet access and develop comprehensive strategies for addressing those barriers. Congress appropriated $142 million for research and development in this area; the new Administration should sustain this commitment.
• Promote Training to Develop a Skilled and Diverse Higher Tech Workforce. The Information Technology Association of America estimates that nearly 1.6 million information technology jobs were created in 2000 alone, yet black and Hispanic Americans each hold only about 3 percent of those jobs. Minorities and women are similarly underrepresented in math and science programs in higher education and are less likely to receive the training necessary to secure employment in the high paying technology sector. For example, Native Americans received less than one half of one percent of bachelors' degrees awarded in these studies; the percentage of women earning degrees in computer science actually decreased from 1984 to 1995.
  In addition to education initiatives designed to remedy this problem, the Administration should promote and fund job-training initiatives such as the Job Training Partnership Act and create incentives for the private sector to mentor and train minority high tech workers. Any tax relief package supported by the Administration should include incentives for companies to target minority workers in technology training programs.
• Diversify Communications and other High Technology Industries through programs that genuinely promote diverse media ownership and viewpoints, and vigorous enforcement of the anti-discrimination laws.
• Access to Government Information in Many Languages. The federal government should work with communities to increase access to government information on the Internet for Americans who speak and read languages other than English.

1   The Commerce Department itemized some of the most glaring inequities:

• Only 23.5 percent of African-American households enjoy Internet access, compared to 41.5 percent nationally. This gap has widened by four percentage points since December 1998. A similar divide exists for Hispanic households, where the divide has increased by three percentage points since December 1998.
• Although one-third of all Americans use the Internet at home, only 16.1 percent of Hispanics and only 18.9 percent of African-Americans do so.
• Both African-American and Hispanic households own computers in substantially lower numbers than all American households (51 percent for households nationally, 32.6 percent for African-American households, and 33.7 percent for Hispanic households).