A future without a digital divide

The future of the United States--in terms of quality of life, economic growth, and equality of opportunity--is becoming increasingly tied to the future of high speed Internet. In order to ensure the best future for all Americans, we must guarantee everyone can fully plug into the digital age.

In a fascinating column in the Boston Globe, Harvard lecturer Nolan Bowie presents a vision for the future that reflects the importance of high speed internet. He touches on all of the ways that universal access to this technology can help create a better country and a better life for every citizen:

Imagine what American society would be like if there were no digital divides and all the people of the United States had ready access to really fast Internet connectivity, to relevant content, to essential online services, and to the capacity -- through literacy, skills, and motivation -- to use all of it effectively.

Wouldn't such a future infrastructure enable America to be a competitive player in the emerging global knowledge economy? Wouldn't this empower our workforce to be more productive, flexible, responsive, creative, and better trained? Wouldn't our citizens be better informed and more engaged in civil society and more readily participate in the process of democracy?

Wouldn't adult illiteracy be reduced and children from pre kindergarten through and including post-college education be better adaptive and more critical thinkers and actors with access to lifelong learning and education opportunities? Wouldn't having a national broadband infrastructure provide better and more efficient medical and healthcare services for all people, including those with physical handicaps or disabilities?

Wouldn't businesses and individual entrepreneurs be more prosperous and consumers more satisfied if everyone were connected to a national, integrated high-speed broadband network? And wouldn't this kind of policy outcome improve our national security and economic well-being?

For all these reasons, Bowie calls on our elected leaders share his vision for the future--and to work right now to make it a reality.

Education for the long term (Boston Globe)