4. On Not "Falling Through the Net" -- Commentary by Martin McGreal


In July 1995, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) published "Falling through the net: a survey of the 'have-nots' in rural and urban America." The purpose of this study was to identify the information 'have-nots' in US society and subsequently target them to connect them to the National Information Infrastructure (NII).

Traditional US census data provides statistics on "telephone penetration". However, this is not an accurate indicator of access to the NII. Thus in July 1994, the NTIA contracted the US Census Bureau to collect more detailed information specifically tailored to identify the groups that possessed computers and also modems -- these latter criteria being considered more indicative of access to the Internet.

In essence the study determined that these information 'have-nots' are disproportionately found in rural areas and inner cities. (Telephone penetration is very low in US inner cities). However, "the rural poor [rank] lowest in terms of computer penetration (4.5%) and--among those households with computers--modem penetration (23.6%) compared to central cities (7.6% and 43.9%) and urban areas (8.1% and 44.1%)." This was true regardless of age, colour, race or other statistical divisions.

Paradoxically, and of significance to educators, is that it is these same groups in both rural areas and inner cities which the study cites as also the most likely "to engage actively in searching classified ads for employment, taking educational classes, and accessing government reports, on-line via modem." It further states that "among the most likely users of on-line classes are low-income users ($10,000 - $14,999) in all areas (rural, central city, and urban).

Finally this survey states that since "connectivity to all such house-holds will not occur instantaneously...there is a pivotal role to be assumed in the new electronic age by the traditional providers of information access for the general public--the public schools and libraries. These and other 'community access centres' can provide, at least in the interim period, a means for electronic access to all those who might not otherwise have access." Interestingly, three months later the final report of Canada's Information Highway Advisory Council (IHAC) echoes the NTIA on these points. Its recommendation 13.12 states, "The federal government should ... support .. the role of public libraries as public access points to the Information Highway." The report also stresses the importance of upgrading the infrastructure to provide all geographic areas with universal access (connectivity) to the Internet.

In discussing the logistics of connectivity both documents point to wireless technologies as a potential solution to connecting rural and isolated areas. Still, neither one considers the question in depth due to the high cost of this technology in our society at the present time. Nor is it clear at this point whether or not wireless technology will develop the capacity to handle large volumes of data to compare with copper wire, coaxial cable or optical fibre. However, a recent article by Russell Dagatt in "Scientific American" (September 1995, p. 94) does consider that "satellite communications have the potential to alter the industrial paradigm positively and dramatically--and with it the lives of millions."

Hence it is important to survey developments in wireless technology and also to plan and act with its potential always in mind. [At its most basic this means wiring first those rural communities which will cost less.]*

It is significant that both "Falling through the net" and the report of the IHAC see libraries as a means of providing public access to the Information Highway--thereby reaching the disadvantaged 'have-nots' in an information-based economy. However, it is important to stress that libraries should not be the only point of access--that a just society should aim for 100% connectivity for all its citizens; this alone defines universal access. In this sense libraries can continue to play the role of safety net for those who slip through the cracks. As cited above, the groups we are targeting have demonstrated their interest in accessing education online. We owe it to them to follow through.


Martin McGreal is a Librarian/Researcher at the
Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union /
Syndicat canadien des communications, de l'energie et du papier (CEP/SCEP)
of Canada.

The survey "Falling through the net" is available by ftp at: ftp://ftp.ntia.doc.gov. For a hardcopy version contact: thasti@ntia.doc.gov.


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URL: http://library.fortlewis.edu/~instruct/glosas/net53.htm

November, 1995


GLOSAS NEWS was orinally posted to the WWW at URL: http://library.fortlewis.edu/~instruct/glosas/cont.htm by Tina Evans Greenwood, Library Instruction Coordinator, Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado 81301, e-mail: greenwood_t@fortlewis.edu, and last updated May 7, 1999. By her permission the whole Website has been archived here at the University of Tennessee server directory of GLOSAS Chair Dr. Takeshi Utsumi from July 10, 2000 by Steve McCarty in Japan.