Explain the concept of the DIGITAL DIVIDE. Why does the divide exist. List and explain three actions by government, corporations, or individuals that would help eliminate the divide.

The concept of the DIGITAL DIVIDE as it pertains to our subject matter in communications, is the Divide between those who have access to the online information and those who do not.  


According to our MEDIA/IMPACT book, almost 20 % of individuals in the US still do not have access to the Internet.  Whether this is by choice because they are afraid of this medium, or because the cost is too significant for their budgets, has yet to be determined. 


There are a few ways in which the government, corporations and individuals could help eliminate this divide.  First, the government could work harder with their lawyers to put in place a form of regulation, eliminating the "we can do what ever we want" attitude of those providing the Internet service.  With these mandates, and control of the Internet, the government could do away with the fees associated with the service.


From a corporate standpoint, Corporations could come forward and offer to individuals who do not have a computer, viable working computers that they are disposing of at little or not cost to the consumer.  They could also provide a particular number of computers to non-profits, libraries, schools, etc. to give more people more access to a computer.


and finally, as individuals we could protest the high fees and suggest that since we are always bombarded by numerous messages and advertisements anyway, why not make the access free and charge more for the advertisements, thus allowing for greater access to the Internet.