Citizen Hunters know that "net neutrality" and making sure that the Internet is free, open, and independent has been a long standing passion of mine.
I was so excited to hear Obama, in his weekly radio address, promise to "renew our information superhighway" as one of the many ways we must invest in our infrastructure in this struggling economy to help create jobs.
"It is unacceptable that the United States ranks fifteenth in the world in broadband adoption," Obama said. "Here, in the country that invented the Internet, every child should have the chance to get online, and they'll get that chance when I'm President -- because that's how we'll strengthen America's competitiveness in the world."
You should check out InternetforEveryone.org, an initiative to connect every American to a fast, open and affordable Internet. It is so important that we continue to find ways to close the digital divide.
Josh Silver, whom I have mentioned from another great group, freepress.org, points out that "right now, more than 40 percent of American homes are not connected to broadband. This digital divide isn't just costing us our ranking as global Internet leader -- its costing us jobs and money at a time when both are urgently needed."
Comments (4)
Definitely this is THE most important issue (right alongside energy and farm policy8). Thank you for being continuing to write about this.
Posted by: Charles on December 8, 2008 18:49
I don't know about that. I keep in touch with somebody from Thailand once in a while and she can look at her email only periodically because the service is so bad in Thailand.
I think we just take for granted the extent of our technology. It is pretty amazing that we can hook up to the internet just like we were using a cell phone.....anyway.......
Posted by: TheBoss on December 9, 2008 02:27
Boss am I suppose to be happy about us doing as well as a third world country? Can we raise the bar a little bit please? Speaking of raising the bar--as always Flavia, great piece.
Posted by: RIc on December 9, 2008 11:37
No, I was just saying maybe it isn't as bad as it seems over here in our great country.
Posted by: TheBoss on December 11, 2008 02:42