On The Media

Hey, I love having broadband internet access at home, but I don't see why having this creates some kind of un-jumpable digital divide, and, despite the prejudices of those in the media, I think the emphasis on getting internet access to the disadvantaged is misguided. Haven't you heard of public libraries? Fast internet access is available to all. Why is it necessary for everyone to have this in the home? This will cause everyone to become a successful internet entrepreneur all of a sudden? More likely, the naive will end up sending what little they have to Nigerian scam artists.

Warren, the supposition that the disadvantaged are more naive than the rest of us is not necessarily valid. It's not a question of if but when universal access will be achieved. Increasingly access to vital information for mere daily existence is only available online. While access at libraries and other community centers can help some, it's just not practical for many, particularly workers, schoolchildren and the elderly. I'd suggest you review some of the testimony to the NYC Broadband Advisory Committee where this point is made repeatedly. http://www.isoc-ny.org/wiki/NYC_Broadband_Advisory_Committee

There will be a colloquium this Wednesday Apr 16 @ NYU - Futures of the Internet - where Tim Wu is amongst those speaking. http://www.isoc-ny.org/?p=191

its very interesting to observe in public dialogue and other forums how and why rationales about "disadvantaged" persons having/not having access to broadband is represented to be a good/service that can summarily dismissed a luxury- especially by those who already have it. Perhaps a reframing of broadband as "the potential to have your own factory, democratic soapbox/platform and/or economic engine and rudder" better situates the importance of this technology.

As one of the disadvantaged, I find it entirely frustrating that I don't have the bandwidth to download a half-hour interview done on Polish television with my musician, namesake nephew (also known as CroDad) at http://muzzowizja.muzzo.pl/odtwarzaj,319905?cmt=1 in anything less than 4 or 5 hours. Luckily, my less disadvantaged brother can play it for his son’s 92-year old grandmother at his house but, as she is currently ill, it will have to wait until or if she recovers rather than here tomorrow, just a few feet from where she is asleep.

We will likewise need to travel just to see video of the child his sister is due to give birth to in New South Wales in about 8 ½ months.

More power to Professor Wu!

Wider availability of broadband will enable the disadvantaged to pirate copywrited material, view XXX porno in HD, and gamble in the privacy of their own homes. That's what the privileged do, not that there's anything wrong with that.