Digital divide, what is it? A term used to describe the inequality between people who have access and the resources to use information and communication tools, such as the Internet, and people who do not have the resources and access to the technology. The term also describes the inequality between those who have the skills, knowledge, and abilities to use the technologies and those who do not. The digital divide commonly exists between those living in rural areas and those living in urban areas, between the educated and uneducated, between economic classes, and on a global scale between more and less industrially developed nations.  According to USA Today, The U.S. has fallen to 25th in the world, behind countries like Romania, in terms of our speed capacity. The fact that 24 million Americans lack any access to high-speed broadband is holding us back. In a global economy, we cannot afford to stand still.

In class, we discussed the distinction between digital, global, and social divide. There is an absolute large scale, planet-wide divide in regards to access to technology and telecommunication in the global divide, often following economic division. In a social divide, there are five contributing factors within a country like America between those who have and those who have not. One being socioeconomic status or your class, two income, three education level, four race, and five location--where you live. One’s country, ethnicity, age, education, income, female or male are all factors that play into these three division categories.

According to the FCC, Federal Communications Commission nowhere in the United States does the digital divide cut as wide as in Indian Country. More than 90 percent of tribal populations lack high-speed Internet access, and usage rates are as low as 5 percent in some areas.  The article “Massive Digital Divide for Native Americans is 'A Travesty'” discusses ways to help tribal communities take advantage of new media platforms.  In January, New America Foundation who has been working with Native Public Media since 2009 have formalized their partnership, and this fall, they plan to launch a media literacy pilot project that will train Native radio broadcasters in at least four communities to tell stories using digital tools.  Unfortunately, according to the National Broadband Plan, many tribal areas are geographically remote, which can make provision difficult and expensive. However, despite the challenges, the potential for technology to improve media capacity in tribal areas is fantastic.

In my opinion, no matter a man or woman’s race, age, background, religion, ability or disability, he or she should have the same opportunities and any attempt to close this digital gap is proactive.