digital divide network - article database

This material is taken from a larger piece, Extending the Information Revolution: A White Paper on Policies for Prosperity and Security. Published in February 2002 by Athena Alliance, the white paper calls for a broad strategy of inclusion to help all Americans benefit from the shift to an information economy. Such a strategy must range from expanding the technological infrastructure to education and training to financing. Athena Alliance believes that real sustainable economic growth and international security will come from expanding the information revolution to all parts of our society. The various sections of the full white paper lay out some of the policies and programs that will spur the revolution forward.

America has a grand opportunity to lay the foundations for a prosperous and secure future. Our task is not just reviving the weak economy or increasing security - as important as those are. Real sustainable economic growth and international security will come from expanding the information revolution to all parts of our society. Metcalfe's Law states that the value of a network increases exponentially in relation to the number of users. The same is true for markets and economic activity. By leaving some behind - both at home and around the world, we impoverish not only those individuals; we also impoverish ourselves.

The information revolution has reached a critical juncture. It is no longer a phenomena of the dot-com bubble. Economic growth in the information age comes not from physical strength or even the creation of information technology (IT) equipment. It is the creation of knowledge and information that drives growth. In the information age, the output of workers is more likely to be an "intangible" - such as software, ideas, services, music, literature, etc. - rather than a physical good. But if the information revolution is to be wide, deep and sustained, policies and programs must create a framework in which the information revolution can thrive and all can participate.

The following piece calls for a reinvigoration of the G-8’s DOT Force both as a tool for international poverty reduction and as an anti-terrorism strategy. The article was contributed by Kenan P. Jarboe, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Athena Alliance. An audio file of Kenan P. Jarboe discussing this issue can be found at: http://www.athenaalliance.org/sound/10.%20Jarboe%20Finan-close.rm

America’s security and economic prosperity is enhanced and strengthened by economic prosperity and security around the world. Terrorist organizations find aid and comfort in inequality and poverty. One of the ways to strike at terrorism is to strike at its breeding ground. This principle was embodied in President Bush’s State of the Union address when he said “we have a great opportunity during this time of war to lead the world toward values that will bring lasting peace. All fathers and mothers, in all societies, want their children to be educated and live free from poverty and violence.”

At last year’s G-8 summit in Genoa in July, the United States joined with other nations in a program to reduce poverty through two programs: debt-relief and an expansion of information technology. The Digital Opportunity Task Force (DOT Force) is working with countries to develop national “eStrategies” and promote conductivity. However, poverty is not a technology-deployment issue. Nor is it an issue of charity. It is an issue of wealth and asset creation. Technology can help, but it is at best a tool and at worst a barrier. Debt-forgiveness is an important step, but only if it leads to future asset creation.

As noted in the earlier section on economic development, information assets are important keys to local economic development. The same is just as true in international economic development. While there are crying infrastructure needs in less developed nations, infrastructure is not the end all and be all of economic development, either at home or abroad. The G-8’s DOT Force declaration of last July recognizes the importance of enhanced human capacity development through education and training and of fostering enterprise and entrepreneurship. Yet, since September 11, attention to the activities of the DOT Force seem to be a low priority for the United States.

We need to re-invigorate the DOT Force – both as a tool for international poverty reduction and as an anti-terrorism strategy. Greater attention must especially be given to those areas of utilization discussed in the other sections of this report: community access, the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), education, training, utilization of information assets for economic development, entrepreneurship, small business and financing. U.S. foreign aid efforts should incorporate these areas as funding priorities and expand their focus to include the range of activities outlined in this paper. Government officials, from the President on down, should also give greater emphasis on participatio