Broadband Access: Why So Important?

• Published in: Hispanic engineer and information technology Vol. 16; no. 1; p. 8
• Main Author: Lemus, Gabriela D.
• Format: Magazine Article
• Language: English
• Published: Baltimore Tyrone D. Taborn 01.06.2001; Career Communications Group, Inc
• Subjects: Broadband transmission; Commercial regulation; Computers; Education; Financial regulation; Hispanics; Information systems; Internet; Minority & ethnic groups; Regulatory legislation; Revenue regulations; Social conditions & trends; Society; Vista
• ISSN: 1088-3452; 2573-4415

The "Digital Divide" -- the disparity between those who have access to information and new technologies and those who do not -- disturbingly impacts vulnerable populations in economically depressed urban and rural areas of the U.S. Most of those adversely affected are people of color, specifically Latinos and African Americans. Hispanics are still half as likely to own a computer as White households and nearly 2.5 times less likely to use the Internet. In fact, Latinos are less likely to have access to the Internet from any location -- whether that be at home, school, work, or the library -- than Whites are from home. Moreover, the divide may exacerbate the problems of people who already lack affordable health care, satisfactory employment, and decent housing. New technological advances such as telemedicine, local and distance learning, and telecommuting, among other applications, are possible through emerging high-speed, high-capacity networks that permit users to send and receive voice, data, graphics, and video using telephone, cable, or wireless technologies. The availability of these "broadband networks" can connect people and help communities address some of their pressing problems, but only if the networks reach everyone, everywhere.