Although the number of Americans who have access to computers and the Internet has increased greatly in the last year, the "digital divide" between information and communication "haves" and "have-nots" is still growing. The barriers to information and technology access remain high for rural communities.

• Regardless of income level, Americans living in rural areas are lagging behind in Internet access. At the lowest income levels, those living in urban areas are more than twice as likely to have Internet access than those earning the same income in rural areas1.
• The contrasts between low-income households (earning between $5,000 and $9,999) in rural American and high-income households (earning more than $75,000) in urban areas are strong: Some 8% if rural low-income households own a computer, versus 76.5% of high-income households. Around 3% of low-income rural households have Internet access, compared to 62% of high-income households.
• Despite estimates that by 2005, 91% of all American households will be online, the quality of that access will continue to be unequal for rural areas. While more than 56% of US cities of more than 100,000 people have high-speed digital subscriber lines (DSL) and 65% of those same cities have cable modem service, less than 5% of towns with fewer than 10,000 people have access to either high-speed DSL or cable service2. Why? Because technology is more costly and difficult to implement as the distance increases between the central connection points in mostly urban areas and subscriber homes. These high-speed technologies provide Internet connections 10 to 100 times faster than those available over an ordinary phone line, and are the next generation medium for distance learning, telemedicine, and vital economic development resources.
• While 55.3 percent of seniors in urban areas own computers, and 36.5 percent have Internet access, 23.3 percent of seniors in rural areas own computers ownership, and 12.4 percent have Internet access. For those rural households headed by persons under 45, 27.7 percent own computers, and 13.3 percent Internet access.
• While some 84% of all public libraries have some type of Internet connection, there is still a large gap between urban and suburban libraries and rural library access points3.

Despite the obstacles of the digital divide,rural areas want access to computers and the Internet. The Internet is no longer only a source of information, communication, and entertainment, it is fast becoming a tool of self and economic-empowerment. Underserved communities are using information technology to look for employment, education, and training opportunities, as well as to utilize community information that addresses basic needs and encourages civic participation. Technology access and literacy are less a luxury than a necessity to participation and empowerment in our digital society. Rural areas need access to computers and the Internet. People without technology access are roughly 1.5 times more likely than home computer users to obtain Internet access through community technology centers. Falling prices for computer and Internet access may allow more people to access the same tools as other connected Americans, regardless of race or ethnicity. This, however, is a long-term prospect with no promises. In the meantime, the limited numbers of community technology centers are working to narrow the "digital divide" by meeting the technology needs of minorities and underserved populations today. Community Technology Centers (CTCs) work to close the digital divide. Community Technology Centers (CTCs) provide minority, low income, and other disenfranchised individuals with free or low-cost public access to the technology tools and services other connected Americans enjoy. These services include trainings that may enhance employment opportunities. Federally funded research4 has demonstrated CTCs to be an effective community-based model, and Congress appropriated $32.5 million in FY 2000 to support CTCs. The Clinton Administration has proposed increasing the budget for CTCs in FY 2001 to $100 million. However, tight caps on discretionary spending may put CTC funding in jeopardy. A coalition of organizations, including Alliance for Community Media, the Alliance for Technology Access, American Library Association, the Association for Community Networking, Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, Libraries for the Future, National Education Association, National Urban League, OMB Watch, and SeniorNet have come together to support CTCs, and encourage Congress to fund the program at $100 million in FY 2001. With expanded, consistent funding, more CTCs can be established, and existing ones can be strengthened and expanded. NOTES

1. Figures cited, unless otherwise noted, courtesy of "Falling Through The Net: A Report on the Telecommunications and Information Technology Gap In America," U.S. Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (July 1999)
2. Advanced Telecommunications in Rural America: The Challenge of Bringing Broadband Service to All Americans, United States Department of Commerce and U.S. Department of Agriculture (April, 2000)
3. National Survey of U.S. Public Library Outlet Internet Connectivity, American Library Association, the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science and the Gates Library Foundation. (1999)
4. For more information, see:
   • "Impact of CTCNet Affiliates: Findings from a National Survey of Users of Community Technology Centers," Chow et al, July 1998, Education Development Center, Newton, MA, http://www.ctcnet.org/impact98.htm
   • "Community Technology Centers: Impact on Individual Participants and Their Communities," Mark et al, April 1997, EDC, Newton, MA, http://www.ctcnet.org/eval.html
   • "Losing Ground Bit by Bit: Low-Income Communities in the Information Age," Susan Goslee et al, Benton Foundation, June 1998, http://www.benton.org/Library/Low-Income

Funding CTCs Is The Right Thing To Do