Avoiding A Digital Divide (NAPSA)—A new government plan to speed up Internet access could do so at the expense of rural areas that already face challenges. Experts worry that the National Broadband Plan, a mandate currently being considered by policymakers as a way to bring broadband to every home, would create a digital divide, setting speed goals for rural areas that are 25 times slower than urban areas. Communication is an essential part of keeping America’s communities connected. Such a divide would curtail rural educational opportunities such as distance learning and threaten consumer welfare by limiting rural telemedicine initiatives. The plan could also sharply increase consumer rates and limit the use of Internet services such as job seeking, paying taxes and shop- ping, which could further economically disadvantage rural areas. “The people who live in rural America need services—schools, libraries, hospitals,” said Shirley Bloomfield, CEO of the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA). “Shouldn’t all Americans have access to the same broadband connections?” For more information, visit www.ntca.org.
