I’ve been following the FCC’s National Broadband Plans since they were sent to Congress. I’ve been excited about the possibility of the Digital Literacy Corps. However when reviewing the Broadband Action Agenda I feel a little uneasy. I see no reference to training or instruction. While I agree on the importance of access to broadband I’m concerned about lack of attention to instruction. This sort of training and funding are desperately needed. Dumping broadband access on communities that can’t afford a computer or the monthly fee for high speed access and without any instruction is like giving a 13 year a Ferrari, its a great car but he can’t afford the gas and he don’t know how to drive it. Its basically worthless.
At the VERY least there should be mention of public libraries. They are the ones who will be providing access to this wonderful broadband to people who can’t afford the device or the connection fee. It also falls upon them to provide the training and instruction. Broadband is wonderful but we are not born knowing how to use the internet, not even so called digital natives.
I hope I’m wrong, I hope I’m missing something and someone will point it out to me and I’ll feel dumb, because I’d rather feel that than the disbelief and outrage I feel right now.
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