"America Offline:" Stories from the digital divide

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Free Press presents "America Offline," stories from across the digital divide.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• internet for everyone
• free press

[sickntired08]

books, have info in them too..

[GretchenDawntreader]

I'm not sure I'd go so far as to say there's a "right" to high speed internet, or cable tv, or any other "convenience." It's nice, I mean cars are nice, but I don't have one.

There was a day waaay back when kids did their homework with their parents and at the library. Using books. Or they had to pay attention in class instead of txting all day.

Googling your homework isn't really learning.

[Salsa23PR]

Not having internet is not a very serious matter, for god sakes there are people in the world that don't have enough food to eat and yet these morons think life is a struggle without internet technology.

Give me a fucking break.

[LindaLu80]

As a Msc student - I understand the convenience, but do not agree that the only way for a child to develop their skills well is to have access to the internet at the best speed from home. However it is essential that they learn how to use and apply the technology to their benefit. There is where libraries and schools SHOULD provide them the service and facility when their families cannot afford it... There is nothing wrong with doing your homework from the school's library computer...

[TexanCyclist]

So let's destroy the roads, illegals might use them. Let's close down the libraries, illegals might use them Let's close down the Federal Reserve Banks...Well, I might be in favor of that!

[TexanCyclist]

Interstate highway, rural electrification, telephone services, & railroads ALL come via guv support & subsidy. Why? To lift the nation as a whole & for the benefit of all of us.

Have you never heard about strength in numbers? It's not a catch phrase, it's a fact.

[TexanCyclist]

For DSL you have to be within 3 miles of a sub station. I'm 9 miles from nearest.

Uncle already paid to lay fiber (to both SW Bell & MCI & they used the same ditch) less than 1/2 mile from my house with the understanding that rural customers would be served. 15 years still waiting even w/a portal 3/8ths mile from me.

Satellite service offers 3 tiers of service, slow, medium, & high. Criticizing terminology when lacking facts is oxymoronic. I've been programming since'70. You?

[g3f0rc3p0w3r]

I don't even have fiber optic. Now, why would I want to pay for yours? Dsl can be used on existing phone lines, and goes up to 7 Mbps. how about you opt for that instead of having uncle sam foot the cost of 60 Mbps fios internet. and no, you can't have a video chat at 120 kbps. you probably could at 120 KBps, which if you are familiar with bytes is 8 times more data per second than the former. 120 kbps might as well be dailup.

BTW, slow high speed is an oxymoron.

[g3f0rc3p0w3r]

for some reason these people remind me of the illegal immigrants that would also benefit from this.

[intrascoobz]

Yes. I said that too! My professor friend talked me into it. It was unaffordable & he pitched 1/2 the monies. The library has 30minutes tops to use it & their friends' parents would roll up their eyes when my children would show up to use theirs 1 -2 many times. I didn't realize their day 2 day stress of them finding their way to a computer to get things done. I didn't understand! My 3rd child had earlier access by age 9. Now honor society & studying sciences overseas. I am researching this!

[CheekyMonkey888]

It is not the State's purpose to provide services. If you go down that road you will find it has no end.