First let me start by saying that I’m not in politics or a policy maker. I am a technologist and have been involved in technology for over 15 years, and I can honestly say that technology has had a significant effect on my life. The birth of the Internet has granted opportunities and access to knowledge I would not have obtained otherwise. I have created companies out of the comfort of my home and connected with clients that never met me face-to-face. I have been empowered to lead my career in the direction I wanted. Without the Internet I would not be where I am today.
Recently, I have become more familiar with the activities of the FCC, including net neutrality regulations being debated in Washington. Net Neutrality is the claim that prescribing rules and restrictions on how content is accessed and transmitted on the Internet is the singular path to a “free” or “open” Internet. However, I would argue that before the Internet can be truly “neutral” there has to be equal access to it, and these regulations do not support that goal. We still do not have full deployment of broadband Internet to underserved communities, which are disproportionately rural, poor, and/or minority communities. We need to have digital literacy programs that educate these communities on the uses of broadband so their members are aware of the opportunities it offers them. We cannot allow the playing field to be limited. Making sure these communities have access in the first place should be a higher priority than trying to limit it in any way.
A recent PEW study showed that less than 50% of African Americans have adopted broadband. Although that statistic increases some for other minority groups, it’s still a far cry from what adoption rates could look like considering that broadband in available to 92% percent of Americans. These figures provide a simple lesson: huge segments of our population are underrepresented in the discussion of what I’ll call ‘net values,’ and we need to get these people active and counted. Right now the net neutrality issue is a rich man’s issue, where certain companies and organizations are focused on having rules in place for profiting on future growth and using people’s fears to make believe this is in the best interest of the “people.” What’s really in the best interests of the people is focusing on ways to increase broadband adoption. The Internet allowed me access to opportunity, and we need to give that same opportunity to others. Many of the issues that are facing our country, from healthcare to job creation, to public safety and improving education and our energy consumption, could all be improved by universal access to broadband and additional understanding about on how it can be used to empower the masses.
The Internet today is a place where new entrepreneurs can break down old and outdated business models everyday. It is a place where a young minority kid from the inner city could gain all of the knowledge he or she needs to be successful.
Now, imagine how much more could happen if everyone had access to broadband. It is my goal through this blog to bring awareness to the issues and opportunities that I feel people should be thinking about when it comes to high-speed Internet access. I hope that through this process more people will become interested in learning about the infinite possibilities of the Internet.
