Digital Divide

With most of the national attention on the economy and the war, other critical issues get pushed into the background. Today, while at the Freedom 2 Connect conference I listened to a Congressional candidate who was refreshing in her approach to the support of technology, and to the digital divide that exists.

Donna Edwards is the Democratic candidate in MD's 4th congressional district. She described her home in the Ft Washington neighborhood as one which has the highest per capital income for African Americans in the country. The best connection she can get is dial-up which often prevents her from effective communications. Although her neighborhood is one which is listed as having broadband, it exists in a very small area around a Verizon central office, and she lives outside that area.

She also said that while going door to door during her primary campaign, only one person asked her about net neutrality but several residents asked about getting better connections for their children's schools.

We take for granted the importance of infrastructure in water, sewer and roads. We need to realize that the new mode of travel and daily needs are tied to spectrum, bits and light.