Faculty Responses to the Digital Divide
Prof. Biddick | Prof. Hachen | Prof. Barry
Prof. Hachen
Understanding your background in the Net group, can we assume that you believe the Internet is a revolutionary tool?
I believe that the Internet and other technology developments are having major impacts on society, some of which we are aware of, others of which we are not. I also believe that people are using the Internet and related technologies to do things that they didn't use to do, or to do things they used to do in different ways. This said, I also think that sometimes we exaggerate the impact of the Internet.
If it is indeed revolutionary, does that mean all members in a democracy should have access to the Net?
I believe that differential access to Internet technologies has consequences and can under certain circumstances lead to other inequalities. Because I believe that creating unnecessary inequalities is problematic (especially for those who have less, but also for society as a whole), I think it is an important goal to increase as much as possible the proportion of people who have access.
What is the feasibility of providing the Internet to all of these people?
If by feasibility you mean costs (as opposed to technological feasibility),
I really don't know the hard facts here, but my hunch is that the costs of
providing access are not that high because there are economies of scope in
networks. By this I mean that once a network is in place, the costs of
adding another node to the network are not that great. Of course, the big
costs have to do with creating the network infrastructure in the first
place. Through libraries and schools access could be provided, and even
privately assess will increase as costs drop and costs could be subsidized
at little cost to taxpayers.
Who should take on the responsibility of providing this service?
I think governments working with social service sector agencies and foundations could do a lot.
Do you think the Digital Divide, the gap that exists
between those who have and those who do not have access
to technology (telephones, computers, Internet access)
and related services, is hype?
NO. But I think the divide, at least among some segments of the population is closing. I also think there are multiple causes of the various digital divides, so some divides may close quicker because the factors causing the divide are already changing (for example the age divide, and already the gender divide).
Are there bigger problems we should be addressing in
both domestic and international democracies?
Yes. The two big problems are the vibrancy
of our democracy and the extent of our democracy. Vibrancy has to do with
political participation, and I do not just mean voting. It is possible that
increasing access to and use of the Internet could increase participation,
though I am not sure about that. There are many other causes of variability
in participation. Second, though we talk about democracy in the political
arena, in many other areas (and even within some "political" institutions)
there is little if any democracy. Why democracy within some institutions
and not others? This is a big issue and I don't think the Internet has much
to do with this, at least not directly.
Is equality of opportunity to technology necessary to
democracy?
I don't know. I am not sure in general about the relationship
between other equalities of opportunity and democracy, of for that matter
the relationship between (in)equality and democracy. Clearly there are
democracies that have a good deal of inequality. I think the crucial issue
has to do with power and its dispersion. Democracies have a hard time
existing when decisions in some arenas are not made democratically but
rather by a few who have the power.
Should it be or is it already required for all people to possess technological skills in today's society with the growing use of the Net to pay bills online etc.?
People need to be given the opportunity to acquire skills
in general, and technological skills in particular. Those without those
skills will have a harder time doing things (and finding work), but it is
not essential to being a citizen to have skills, and clearly should not be a
requirement for citizenship. That said, exclusion of groups from having
skills decreases their capacity to participate and thus can lead to other
inequalities as I noted earlier.
How do we close the gap for older generations who
grew up without this technology? What about those in the
US who cannot afford it? What about international
democracies?
In general gaps are closed by first
understanding the causes of the gaps and then changing those things, if
possible, that are causing a specific gap. The age gap, I suspect is (was)
caused by some anxieties among older people (not by limited resources),
culture things that make it appear that computers were for the young, and
learning curves. But with classes, increasing use among older people (who
shared their knowledge with family and friends), and simpler user
interfaces, the age gap is now closing. The affordability gap is caused by
the costs of technology and inequalities in wealth and income. Given that
the costs are declining, and with the aid of subsidies, that gap can be
closed without, I think, changing in a major way the economic inequalities.
