'PowerUp' initiative to provide access for the Internet-deprived

Andy McBride
University Wire
04-05-2000
(The Lantern) (U-WIRE) COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A group of corporations, non-profit organizations and federal agencies have teamed together to bridge the digital divide.

The initiative, called PowerUp, aims to correct the lack of access that some individuals and communities have to computers and online resources. PowerUp, led by America Online Chairman Steve Case, has received support from companies such as Microsoft and the YMCA.

"The public's interest in PowerUp has been off of the charts," said Vivian Haver, PowerUp administrator.

A Columbus division of The Boys and Girls Club of America, 115 S. Gift St., will host one of the first PowerUp pilot sites in the nation. The initiative will kick-off April 14th, when 12 new computer terminals and Internet access are installed in the computer center, said Robert Zuercher, director of the Columbus Boys and Girls Club of America.

"This will make a big impact on kids who don't have the means to access such facilities away from school," Zuercher said.

Haver also said there will likely be more than 250 PowerUp locations nationwide by the end of the program's first year.

Statistics released by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Telecommunications Information Administration show that the gap between those with and without Internet access is increasing.

Administration statistics also show that between 1997 and 1998, the digital divide between the highest and lowest income levels increased by 29 percent.

"I think bridging the digital divide is extremely important," said Kelly Levy, associate administrator of the Office of Policy Analysis and Development of the administration. "Individuals will need technological skills for the jobs that will be offered in the 21st century. Without access to this information, how will children be equipped for the work force?"

According to statistics released by the administration on their website, 61.6 percent of individuals with a college education use the Internet, while only 6.6 percent of high school-educated people are Internet users.

There are other areas besides education that are having a problem adapting to technology. Administration statistics show that there are problems with rural households, single-parent families, lower income levels, and in some cases, minorities. For example, the statistics found that urban households earning incomes over $75,000 are 20 times more likely to have home Internet access than their rural counterparts.

"It is important for the private sector to provide training for the people who lack technological skills," Levy said.



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