This article seems a little sketchy to me to tell you the truth. It is true that there is a divide based on prices being charged by TELCOS in basically cartel economic situations and the idea that we are waaayyyy behind in our broadband development. But this has been a conscious policy decision more than an economic issue. This is a point that the author of the article gets to somewhere in the second page of the article. But I think more important is why is this point being brought up now? People have been screaming about how our lack of broadband development in this country and the way that we allow TELCOS to handle broadband is hurting and will continue to hurt our society for at least four to five years by a lot of people. The decision has been not to democratize the Internet beyond its inherent capabilities. But again the question becomes why all of a sudden make this a central article in the New York Times at this particular moment in history. You will forgive me from being a little bit cynical but there might be other reasons than this sudden worry about lack of broadband development. One might have to do with the IP bill that is being fast tracked through Congress and might tremendously impact net neutrality. If you are interested in the bill you can see a video exploring the dangers here, http://boingboing.net/2011/11/11/stop-sopa-save-the-internet.html There has also it seems been an attempt to suggest that Internet generated protests are in some way separate from lower SES groups. The situation that has been created has led to a digital divide, but in very much the same way there is a medical divide, a dental divide, a nutritional divide, a ,mortality divide in this country. It has been built into the system. Michael ________________________________ From: xmca-bounces@weber.ucsd.edu on behalf of mike cole Sent: Sun 12/4/2011 4:39 PM To: Luisa Aires Cc: eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity Subject: Re: [xmca] Fwd: NYTimes.com: The New Digital Divide It appears that each new technological "solution" to problems of inequality is really another knife blade, cutting a deeper gash. And it sure did not start with the internet! mike On Sun, Dec 4, 2011 at 1:19 PM, Luisa Aires <laires11@gmail.com> wrote: > Very interesting, Mike. > In Portugal, poor, rural, old people and minority groups live this digital > divide, too. > > Luísa A. > > On 4 December 2011 20:55, mike cole <lchcmike@gmail.com> wrote: > >> On Sun, Dec 4, 2011 at 12:25 PM, <mcole@ucsd.edu> wrote: >> >> > [image: The New York Times] <http://www.nytimes.com/> [image: >> > E-mail This] *This page was sent to you by: * mcole@ucsd.edu >> >> > >> > Message from sender: >> > This seems like must reading. It corresponds directly with the situation >> > that LCHC is witnessing in its daily work. >> > >> > * OPINION * | December 04, 2011 >> >> > * Opinion: The New Digital Divide >> > < >> http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/opinion/sunday/internet-access-and-the-new-divide.html?emc=eta1 >> > >> > * >> >> > By SUSAN P. CRAWFORD >> > Most Americans can get online. But too many can't afford high-speed >> > access. >> > Copyright 2011 >> > <http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/copyright.html> The New >> > York Times Company <http://www.nytco.com/> | Privacy Policy< >> http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/privacy.html> >> > >> > >> __________________________________________ >> _____ >> xmca mailing list >> xmca@weber.ucsd.edu >> http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca >> > > > > -- > __________________________________________ _____ xmca mailing list xmca@weber.ucsd.edu http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca
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