A PERSISTENT AND WIDE GAP - The Annie E. Casey Foundation has completed a new
study that indicates a persistent and wide gap in access to technology for households of
different incomes and races. Computer access for those with household incomes of at least
$75,000 is 95% and Internet access is 63%. For households with less than $15,000 annually,
the numbers drop to 33 and 14%. In spite of significant jumps in access for black and
Hispanic groups, 46 and 47% respectively, they still lag far behind the 83% access of whites.
Wide differences also exist from one state to another, and the study shows significant access
gaps among suburban, rural and urban households. (Wall Street Journal, 5 July 02) (sub.
req'd) For the full story see: http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB1025879996213121280,00.html

DIGITAL DIVIDE STILL EXISTS - The Civil Rights Forum on Communications Policy,
the Consumer Federation of America and the Consumers Union have issued a new report
that argues that the Bush administration has ended its efforts to address the digital divide
before the gap is nearly closed. The report says that low-income groups continue to lag
significantly behind higher income people in terms of Internet access and access to broadband
services. According to the report, U.S. households with annual incomes of $50,000 or more
are three times as likely to have Internet access as households with incomes of less than
$25,000. The groups that authored the report also criticized the administration for eliminating
the Technology Opportunities Program and the Community Technology Centers program,
both of which have lost their funding in the 2003 budget. (Washington Post, 30 May 02)
You can find the complete article at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35195-2002May30.html