Improving Network Infrastructure

Obama okays $7 billion to improve broadband: Is it enough?

I find it exciting that money is being set aside to improve the broadband access in this country. The article discusses the current place the U.S. holds in the world as far as providing its citizens access to the services of the internet: #15. That is kind of strange for the country that "invented" (Thanks, Al! ;) ) the internet.

I feel it's very important for EVERYONE to learn how to use the internet. This is a technology that is not going away, barring the destruction of civilization as we know it. There are still individuals that do not use the internet, but to be honest, these are only people that are my age group or above, or people who do not have access to the internet because of their economic situation.

I watch people at the library apply for unemployment, using a web browser for the first time. I have helped little old ladies use a mouse to find books in our catalog. I helped a father find his long lost sons on Facebook. There are no longer arguments in my circle of friends about what actor was in that episode of such-and-such. I have the first email my now-husband wrote me back in 1998. Well, I have it somewhere :)

The rural and poorer areas of this country will have people at an even greater disadvantage in our current economy and culture than before if something is not done soon to familiarize those people with how the internet works. There will still be many jobs that can be found without it, but communication with others, purchasing certain commodities, etc. is changing to require the internet more and more.