Digital Divide 1

Austin Denson
4/12/13
adenson@linfield.edu
Final Annotations

PROPOSED TOPIC: Digital Divide

PROPOSED QUESTION: Should the United States government increase the amount of
technologies available to the public in hope of diminishing the digital divide among American
citizens?

PREVIOUS QUESTION: Should the United States government place more effort in decreasing
the digital divide among American citizens?

Digital Divide 2
General Periodical
Crawford, P. S. (2011, December 3). The new digital divide. The New York Times, Retrieved
from http://tinyurl.com/ablye8q
The main assertion is that high-speed Internet is a gateway to enhancing peoples careers,
education and quality of life. High-speed Internet is referred to as a superhighway for
information compared to second-class wireless Internet. Over 200 million Americans have highspeed, wired Internet at home. These customers are targets for the next generation of Internet
services. However, we are still in a country where the poor and the working class cannot afford
access or use restricted wireless access. As our jobs, politics, healthcare, and entertainment move
online, millions of people are being left behind. Telecommunications have begun to divide us in
practice. If you are middle-class and located in an urban settlement, the Internet allows access to
a vast amount of information. However, if you are rural, poor, and a member of a minority
group, you are being left behind. Crawford believes that soon job interviews will be held by
videoconference, which will save money and time. Already the majority of job applications are
only accessible online. People without access can expect lower-quality health services, missed
career opportunities, and less entertainment and education options. Smartphone owners have
increased to 35 percent of all Americans. A wireless smartphone plan costs half of what a wired
high-speed internet plan costs. However, smartphone access is not as suitable as wired. Job
applications are difficult to complete on a wireless smartphone, starting a business is near
impossible, and typing a resume on a smartphone is near impossible. The problem today is the
lack of competition in cable markets. Large companies like Comcast and Time Warner dominate
certain areas. The reason is because it is expensive to lay down physical cables. There is no
incentive to expand to rural areas, where there are little customers.

Digital Divide 3
Susan Crawford is a professor at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, located in
New York City. Crawford has served as President Barack Obamas special assistant for science,
technology, and innovation policy. She is a columnist for the Bloomberg View, which is a
multinational mass media corporation. Crawford is also a former board member of the Internet
Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). ICANN helps preserve the
operational stability of the internet. Crawford is the founder of OneWebDay, an annual
celebration that brings awareness to the internet, global constituency, and its future. Crawfords
research focuses on telecommunications and information law. Crawford published a book called
Captive Audience published by Yale University Press in 2012.
One strength about this article is that it talks about high-speed Internet versus secondary
wireless Internet. The article references studies by the Federal Communications Commission,
which I have seen referenced in other articles. Crawford said that new cable companies cannot
afford constructing physical cable lines. Since companies cannot create new cable lines that
leaves little competition in the cable market. This is a strength because I was unaware of this
issue before reading the article. The article is lengthy and full of statistical data that helps
strengthen my argument. Crawford also referenced to the department of commerce. Being that
the article also discusses smartphone use I will be able to compare this information to other
authors with similar beliefs about smartphones. The article also states that The Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development ranks America 12th among developed nations for wired
Internet access. I found this surprising because we invented the Internet here in the U.S. This is
one of my most useful documents. The article is full of information and has no weaknesses.
The main assertion is that high-speed Internet is a gateway to enhancing peoples careers,
education and quality of life. As our jobs, politics, healthcare, and entertainment move online,

Digital Divide 4
millions of people are being left behind. Berg (2013) believes all generations are being forced
into learning how to use new technology. She explained that the older generation who had been
working there for decades did not use technology and worked strictly with paper documents.
Simply, people of that age just dont know how to use the new devices. Most likely if you are
40-years-old or younger it is due to an economic struggle. People are not able to afford their own
computers at home. Berg said their public computers are always being used and the library now
has a time limit of one hour per-day use. Johnson (2013) explained that everyone should have the
ability to connect online. He said that it is essential to have internet access when applying for
jobs, accessing government documents, and filing taxes. Johnson believes that the increase in
mobile Internet is because of its availability. He said that Google is always available to answer
questions and new apps are being created, which is allowing more features for mobile phones.
Kiviat (2010) said that a total of 51 percent of Hispanics use their mobile phones to access the
internet. Only 33 percent of whites use mobile devices to connect online. However, there is a
concern with the quality of mobile internet. Mobile users are not experiencing all of what the
internet has to offer. If a mobile device is their primary access point than they are unable to
perform simple tasks compared to a person on a computer. There has been a shift in internet
access among minorities. Although the majority of blacks and Hispanics are accessing the
Internet using mobile devices they are not capable of doing simple tasks compared to a computer
or laptop. The Federal Communications Commission (2012) said that owning a computer is a
necessity in todays world. Americans who cannot gain access online are unable to fully
participate in the digital economy. Block (2004) said there is no problem that needs to be refined.
He argues that the interest in technology is not evenly spread through the subgroups of humanity.

Digital Divide 5
It is a personal choice to become educated with new technology. People have different interests
and different desires for consumer goods, toys, needs and wants.
This article is one of my strongest sources for information relating to the digital divide. I
will be able to compare this article to others that cite the same sources and have similar
arguments. I will include this article in the body of my paper, where I discuss mobile Internet
use, digital literacy, and reasons why being connected online is important. This author of this
article agrees that the digital divide is an issue that needs to be solved and I can include this in
my final paper to strengthen my argument.

Digital Divide 6
Institutional Source
New America Media (2013). New digital-divide campaign would leave seniors behind.
Retrieved from http://tinyurl.com/ax5uyfz
The goal of New America Media (NAM) is to inform and connect minorities,
immigrants, elderly, and young people to help influence policy makers. The main assertion of
this article is that a national project called Connect2Compete (C2C) hopes to provide digital
literacy, Internet access, and refurbished computer to low-income consumers. However, the lowincome seniors do not meet the requirements and are being left behind. The three-year campaign
is targeting families who children are eligible for free and reduced-cost lunch. A family must live
in a low-income area and have a child in the lunch program. This means that seniors who most
likely dont have children in these programs do not seek the benefits of the campaign. The
Federal Communications Commission helped launch C2C. The commission realized that
regardless of age or income, everyone should reap of the benefits of affordable Internet access.
The article referenced to the Pew Internet and American Life Projects saying that online use by
ages 65 or older has increased from 41 percent to 54 percent since 2010. However, are still far
behind other groups when being connected online. The article says that most low-income seniors
do not have computers or broadband access at home. Increased Internet use is a low-cost way to
reduce depression by expanding seniors social interactions. It is also a way to provide access to
health information and treatment. The article referenced to the Senior Service America, Inc.
(SSAI) that has recognized low-income senior who are over the age of 55. SSAI launched its
Digital Inclusion Initiative project helping more than 25,000 seniors understand how to use the
Internet. The projected reported that seniors who completed the program had improved attitudes

Digital Divide 7
and morale about life. These organizations and programs are helping Americans understand
digital literacy and adoption in our most vulnerable populations.
New America Media (NAM) is the largest national collaboration of two thousand ethnic
news organizations. NAM was founded by the nonprofit Pacific News Service (PNS) in 1996.
The organizations headquarters is located in San Francisco, Cali. NAM is an ethnic news
agency that produces and aggregates news for ethnic communities. The organization partners
with journalism schools as well as social marketing campaigns. NAM has offices located in Los
Angeles, New York, and Washington. PNS was created by Franz Shurmann and Orville Schell.
In 1991, PNS created Youth Outlook (YO!), a multimedia for youthful news content. YO!
publishes a monthly magazine, hosts school discussions, and offers journalism internships. PNS
became New California Media in 1996. They continued to provide support for ethnic media, and
expanded it with editorial and marketing workshops. In 2005 the organization expanded to
become New America Media. It is known as the most diverse media organization in the country.
This article is important in my research because senior citizens are one of the largest
populations affected by the digital divide. I was unaware that the Senior Service America, Inc.
was working on helping the elderly become digitally literate. I was surprised to find out that by
learning how to use computers, seniors felt increased morale and quality of life. That brings a
whole other topic to my argument. One strength is that the article referenced to the Pew Internet
and American Life Projects saying that online use by ages 65 or older has increased from 41
percent to 54 percent since 2010. It shows that people are starting to become connected online.
However, senior citizens are still far behind other demographic groups in the U.S. This article is
recent and references to credible organizations and projects. There are no prevalent weaknesses
in this article.

Digital Divide 8
The main assertion of this article is that a national project called Connect2Compete
(C2C) hopes to provide digital literacy, Internet access, and refurbished computer to low-income
consumers. However, the low-income seniors do not meet the requirements and are being left
behind. The article says that most low-income seniors do not have computers or broadband
access at home. Increased Internet use is a low-cost way to reduce depression by expanding
seniors social interactions. It is also a way to provide access to health information and treatment.
Crawford (2011) says that high-speed Internet is a gateway to enhancing peoples careers,
education and quality of life. High-speed Internet is referred to as a superhighway for
information compared to second-class wireless Internet. Over 200 million Americans have highspeed, wired Internet at home. These customers are targets for the next generation of Internet
services. However, we are still in a country where the poor and the working class cannot afford
access or use restricted wireless access. As our jobs, politics, healthcare, and entertainment move
online, millions of people are being left behind. Richtel (2012) said that families are using
devices for social entertainment. A growing time-wasting gap is a result of the efforts in
diminishing the digital divide. Overall, new Internet users need to be taught digital literacy. The
Federal Communications Commission (2012) is considering spending $200 million to create
digital literacy corporations around the United States. Americans who cannot gain access online
are unable to fully participate in the digital economy. A nationwide computer donation and
recycling movement aims to help narrow the digital divide for low-income families. The Federal
Communications Commission believes that millions of computers that businesses are throwing
away can be refurbished and donated to the public. I concluded from my observation that lowincome families use public Internet access more than others. While conducting my observation I
noticed all of the computers had been filled upon my arrival (McMinnville 2013).

Digital Divide 9
I will be able to include this article in my final paper when I talk about different
demographics affected by the digital divide. I will also include the section about increased
computer access, which is proven to help increases the quality of life among senior citizens. This
article references to the Pew and American Life project, which I have seen referenced in other
articles. I will be able to compare this data to help strengthen my final argumentative essay.

Digital Divide 10
Government Document
Common Wealth of Massachusetts. (2013). Governor Patrick lights first section of new mass
broadband 123 fiber-optic network. Retrieved April 22, 2013, from
http://tinyurl.com/ad5sqys
The main assertion of this article is that Governor Deval Patrick launched the start-up of
a new 1,200 mile fiber-optic network. The result brought high-speed internet access to western
and central Massachusetts. The new fiber-optic network is known as MassBroadband 123. The
governor said that broadband access is essential for Massachusetts to remain competitive. Now
the majority of the commonwealth will be connected to economic and educational opportunities
found online. The MassBroadband 123 network will provide connectivity to 1,200 facilities in
more than 120 communities in Massachusetts. That includes fiber-optic connectivity in schools,
libraries, municipal buildings, and healthcare facilities. The MassBroadband 123 network is
Governor Patricks strategy to invest in innovation, education, and infrastructure in order to
create growth and economic opportunities. The article referenced to CEO of the Massachusetts
Technology Collaborative Pamela Goldberg. Goldberg said that making sure our students have
the education and skills to compete in a digital world is essential. The Massbroadband 123
project is successfully increasing Internet access to thousands around the area. The benefits of
providing fiber-optic connectivity include virtual field trips, access to online videos, and
opportunities to learn and use digital technologies like blogs and websites. The network will
increase bandwidth allowing public libraries to meet the digital needs of local residents. Libraries
will be able to teach digital literacy to the elderly and disabled. The fiber-optic connection will
also enhance communications by police and fire departments. These stations will have fast and

Digital Divide 11
reliable access to criminal information as well as increased preparedness for emergency
situations.
Mass.gov is the official website of the Governor of Massachusetts. Governor Patrick was
reelected as Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in November 2010. Patrick
funded public education at the highest levels in the history of the Commonwealth. Patrick arrived
in Massachusetts in 1940 at the age of 14. He was awarded a scholarship to Milton Academy
through A Better Chance, which is a Boston organization. Patrick is a graduate of Harvard
College and of Harvard Law School. He worked as an attorney and business executive after
clerking for a federal judge.
This article shows the progression in diminishing the digital divide. The document
referenced to the CEO of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Pamela Goldberg. She
said that making sure our students have the education and skills to compete in a digital world is
essential. This is a strength because The Federal Communications Commission and other articles
agree with this statement. I was unaware of the Massbroadband 123 network, which will help get
thousands of low-income people connected online in Massachusetts. The article also shows
numerous examples of benefits to having fiber-optic Internet connection. One weakness of the
article is that it is focused on Massachusetts. This network is only going to help a small
population affected by the digital divide. However, the article is recent and shows improvement
in connection technology. I was unaware of the idea that increased technology access will help
increase emergency response times. This is another factor the helps strengthen my argument on
the digital divide. The article also talks about faster Internet connection and its benefits on digital
literacy. The elderly will be able to learn at faster rates increasing the population of seniors
online. This is an issue that other articles I have researched also referenced to.

Digital Divide 12
The main assertion of this article is that Governor Deval Patrick launched the start-up of
a new 1,200 mile fiber-optic network. The MassBroadband 123 network will provide
connectivity to 1,200 facilities in more than 120 communities in Massachusetts. That includes
fiber-optic connectivity in schools, libraries, municipal buildings, and healthcare facilities. New
America Media (2013) said that Connect2Compete (C2C) hopes to provide digital literacy,
Internet access, and refurbished computer to low-income consumers. Increased Internet use is a
low-cost way to reduce depression by expanding seniors social interactions. It is also a way to
provide access to health information and treatment. The article referenced to the Senior Service
America, Inc. (SSAI) that has recognized low-income senior who are over the age of 55. SSAI
launched its Digital Inclusion Initiative project helping more than 25,000 seniors understand how
to use the Internet. All of these projects are helping diminish the digital divide by connecting
people with fast broadband Internet. The Federal Communications Commission (2012) said that
owning a computer is a necessity in todays world. The main assertion is that Americans who
cannot gain access online are unable to fully participate in the digital economy. A nationwide
computer donation and recycling movement aims to help narrow the digital divide for lowincome families. The Federal Communications Commission believes that millions of computers
that businesses are throwing away can be refurbished and donated to the public. Businesses only
donate 3 percent of the 40 million replaced each year. Over 12 million of these are less than a
few years old and are in good condition. Once these computers are refurbished and installed with
the latest software they can be donated to the public. Matt Richtel (2012) addresses the
introduction of new efforts to reduce the digital divide has created a negative side effect. The
expansion of electronic devices in low-income houses resulted in increased use of television,
videos, playing games and other non-productive activities on the web by children. Since there

Digital Divide 13
has been such a large growth in time-wasted online it is concluded that parents are the reason for
enforcing and monitoring their childrens online use. People need to learn how to use technology
to compete, not just for social interaction and entertainment.
This will be able to include this government document in my solutions section in my
paper. I will be able to compare this information to other organizations that are trying to diminish
the digital divide. The article also lists benefits of fast fiber-optic connection that I will be able to
reference to in my conclusion. This article provides evidence that efforts are being made to get
everyone connected online. I will be able to compare this Massbroadband 123 network to
organizations like Connect2Compete and Everyone On.

Digital Divide 14
Blog
Robbins, M. Bridging the school-community divide in digital learning. Retrieved April 22, 2013,
from http://tinyurl.com/azbpcle
The main assertion of this blog post is that the introduction of new technology in
families, schools, and communities can improve student engagement. Michael Robbins talks
about a discussion he lead on digital learning and its impact on education. The major theme of
the discussion was technology and its power to transform education in grades K-12. Robbins said
that the discussions were missing attention on how technology should connect students to their
peers, passions, and careers. If the focus on traditional learning is transferred digitally we are
missing out on new opportunities to engage students in different ways. Frustrations with schools
and their slow digital evolvement has become more of an obstacle. Robbins references to other
organizations like the Maker Movement and Open Badges who have chosen to move digital
learning courses outside of K-12 institutions. Robbins believes that partnerships between
families, schools, and community based organizations are essential to diminishing the digital
divide.
Michael Robbins is a senior advisor for nonprofit partnerships for the U.S. Department of
Education. Robbins has worked as a marketing specialist. Robbins has communications and
technology experience. He was worked in Ernst & Young, Hitachi, and Allegro Development
firms. Robbins specializes in business planning, marketing strategy, and service strategy. He
attended Southern Methodist and Baylor Universities. Robbins also is experienced in marketing
management, digital marketing, social media, communications strategy, and social media
marketing. He is currently and advisor at DWS Associates.

Digital Divide 15
One strength about the blog post is that it is focused on the South by Southwest
Interactive Festival. The festival is focused on emerging technology and new ideas for creative
technologies. The blog post is recent and relates to the topic of digital divide. The blog also
referenced to Jeff Edmondson, the managing director of Strive. Strive is a nonprofit organization
with a mission to enhance student education before they step foot in the classroom and as they
continue on with their careers. The blog is short compared to other documents I have researched
about the digital divide. However, Robbins said that partnerships between schools, families and
organizations are important to bridge the divide. I was unaware that community based programs
were helping diminish the divide outside grades K-12. Robbins argues that digital advancement
in schools is slow. Digital learning outside of school is essential to diminishing the divide.
The main assertion of this blog post is that the introduction of new technology in
families, schools, and communities can improve student engagement. Robbins references to
other organizations like the Maker Movement and Open Badges who have chosen to move
digital learning courses outside of K-12 institutions. Robbins believes that partnerships between
families, schools, and community based organizations are essential to diminishing the digital
divide. Berg (2013) said that all generations are being forced into learning how to use new
technology. Berg said that she noticed the digital divide personally as soon as she started
volunteering at the public library. She explained that the older generation who had been working
there for decades did not use technology and worked strictly with paper documents. Simply,
people of that age just dont know how to use the new devices. Most likely if you are 40-yearsold or younger it is due to an economic struggle. People are not able to afford their own
computers at home. Berg said their public computers are always being used and the library now
has a time limit of one hour per-day use. Johnson (2013) explained that everyone should have the

Digital Divide 16
ability to connect online. He said that it is essential to have internet access when applying for
jobs, accessing government documents, and filing taxes. Johnson also said that if you are not
familiar with technology it will be difficult to find a job that is structured around the Internet. It
is crucial for businesses to have a website enabling them to sell and distribute their products to
the consumers. Kiviat (2010) agrees that closing the digital divide is a good goal. However,
because people are using the Internet it doesnt mean they are being productive. Block (2004)
said there is no problem that needs to be refined. He argues that the interest in technology is not
evenly spread through the subgroups of humanity. It is a personal choice to become educated
with new technology. People have different interests and different desires for consumer goods,
toys, needs and wants. Richtel (2012) said the effort to diminish the digital divide is creating
more problems than predicted. The growing time-wasting gap is a reflection on how children use
technology. Children who have parents without college degrees are spending 90 more minutes
per day than in previous years, engulfed in entertainment media.
I will be able to use this document in my final section on how to diminish the digital
divide. Community based programs outside of schools evolve quickly. New digital learning
techniques can be provided due to increased technologies that public school cant afford. I will
be able to compare Robbins ideas to other organizations that are trying to help diminish the
divide in schools. However, this is not my strongest document it does have a good point on
organization and school relationships that I will include in the conclusion section of my final
argumentative essay.

Digital Divide 17
Journal Article
Block, W. (2004). The digital divide is not a problem in need of rectifying. Journal of Business
Ethics, 53, 393-406.
The main assertion of this article is that Walter Block does not agree with the theory of a
digital divide. Block says that there is no problem that needs to be refined. If certain
demographics do not receive the correct proportion of social recognition as lawyers, doctors, law
enforcement and other prestigious occupations then this results in unfairness and discrimination
to that particular demographic. Block references the study by Thomas Sowell which concluded
each demographic has different goals and perceptions of life. For example, a middle class, white
male might have completely different ideas of accomplishments as opposed to a lower class
female of different race. Block also argues the interest in technology is not evenly spread through
the subgroups of humanity. It is a personal choice to become educated with new technology.
Strangers to new technology have the opportunity to introduce themselves and become
acquainted with new programs and tools. Block argues that there are many division of less
concern among different demographics. If we are to focus on the digital divide between the
rich and poor then how come there is no concern with the division of valuable goods such as
yachts, jewelry and cars? People have different interests and, therefore, different desires for
consumer goods, toys, needs and wants. It is obvious that the United States has more access to
computers and technology than Africa. Block illustrates that there are more bananas grown in
Costa Rica than all of the United States. Block exploits that profits are among economic
equilibriums and websites are no exception to this rule.
Walter Block is an economist from Australia. He is currently a professor of economics at
Loyola University in New Orleans. Block was born in Brooklyn, NY. He earned his

Digital Divide 18
undergraduate degree in philosophy from Brooklyn College. Block earned his doctorate in
economics from Columbia University. Block is one of the leading libertarian defenders. He is an
author, editor, and co-editor of many books. His most famous book is called Defending the
undefendable; Labor economics from a free market perspective. Block has written over 500
articles for journals, magazines, and newspapers.
One weakness of this article is that it is outdated. However, this is still one of my
strongest documents that I will include in my final essay. This is the only document that
disagrees with the theory of a digital divide. Block also argues the interest in technology is not
evenly spread through the subgroups of humanity. It is a personal choice to become educated
with new technology. Strangers to new technology have the opportunity to introduce themselves
and become acquainted with new programs and tools. Since I dont have many articles that
disagree that there is a digital divide this is an important piece of my final paper. I need to
include both sides of the argument for comparison. This author is a well-known economist who
has written over 500 articles for different journals, magazines, and newspapers.
The main assertion of this article is that Walter Block does not agree with the theory of a
digital divide. Block says that there is no problem that needs to be refined. It is a personal choice
to become educated with new technology. Strangers to new technology have the opportunity to
introduce themselves and become acquainted with new programs and tools. Robbins (2013) said
that the introduction of new technology in families, schools, and communities can improve
student engagement. Robbins believes that partnerships between families, schools, and
community based organizations are essential to diminishing the digital divide. The Federal
Communications Commission (2012) said that owning a computer is a necessity in todays
world. The main assertion is that Americans who cannot gain access online are unable to fully

Digital Divide 19
participate in the digital economy. A nationwide computer donation and recycling movement
aims to help narrow the digital divide for low-income families. The Federal Communications
Commission believes that millions of computers that businesses are throwing away can be
refurbished and donated to the public. Businesses only donate 3 percent of the 40 million
replaced each year. Over 12 million of these are less than a few years old and are in good
condition. Once these computers are refurbished and installed with the latest software they can
be donated to the public. Richtel (2012) said that the new efforts to reduce the digital divide have
created a negative side effect. The expansion of electronic devices in low-income houses resulted
in increased use of television, videos, playing games and other non-productive activities on the
web by children. While conducting my observation I noticed all of the computers had been filled
upon my arrival. There was a mix of race using the public computers. The majority of the people
were Hispanic and white. One man seemed over the age of 60 and was there to learn E-Book
instructions. Over the period of one hour I never saw a public computer that was not being used
(McMinnville 2013).
This is one of my most useful documents, because it is the only article that fully disagrees
with the theory of digital divide. I will be able to compare this to other article that disagrees
saying there is a divide. I am going to include this in my conclusion as well, but I am not
agreeing with this theory. I do think there is a digital divide; however, I need the other side of the
argument to compare my research to. This will work well when describing the divide and
populations that are affected.

Digital Divide 20
Interview
Castillo, S. (Politician in the U.S. state of Oregon, N.D.)
Susan Castillo is a U.S. politician in the state of Oregon. Before becoming a politician
she pursued a career in broadcast journalism. She worked for Oregon Public Broadcasting, and
later broadcasted for KVAL-TV in Eugene, OR. Castillo served in the Oregon State Senate from
1997 to 2003. Castillo was born in Los Angeles, Calif. She was raised by her single mother who
had never attended high school. She worked as a secretary in the Affirmative Action Office at
Oregon State University. Castillo received her bachelor of arts in communications in 1981 at
OSU. She became a reporter for KVAL-TV in 1982. The television station is located in Eugene,
OR. The station is in affiliation with the CBS network and began broadcasting in 1954. Castillo
was the first Hispanic woman to join the Oregon Legislative Assembly. She was vice chairman
of the Education Committee and was an Assistant Democratic Leader from 1999 to 2001.
Castillo helped funding for public schools and helped foster innovation in school programs.
Castillo was elected as Superintendent of Public Instruction in May, 2002. She was sworn into
office January 6, 2004 to oversee the State Education Department. The department served over a
half million students in 1,200 public schools.
Castillo said that she was focused on closing the gap in achievement among minorities
and low-income students. The digital divide is a real issue that needs to be resolved. New
innovations of technology in the classroom can increase student engagement, as well as increase
achievement across all demographics. Castillo agrees that mobile connection is beneficial to
closing the divide; however, mobile Internet access is not as efficient as fiber-optic connectivity
at home. Increasing Internet speed allows for new innovations of learning in the classroom. The
more accessible information is the better. Students dont have easy access to the Internet are

Digital Divide 21
falling behind. They are unable to have the tools to enable them to achieve as much as those who
have access at home. Castillo agrees that the relationship between public schools and community
based programs will help close the digital divide.
This is a useful document since Castillo is such an active part of the Oregon community.
Since she agreed with most of the information I have already researched this will add to my
argument about the digital divide. One weakness of this article is that I was unable to speak to
her for a long amount of time; however, the information I did receive is important to my research
and came from a credible U.S. politician. I was unaware that Castillo was named one of the 100
most influential Hispanics in America by Business Magazine. This adds to the credibleness of
the information I received.
Castillo said that she was focused on closing the gap in achievement among minorities
and low-income students. The main assertion is that the digital divide is a real issue that needs to
be resolved. New innovations of technology in the classroom can increase student engagement,
as well as increase achievement across all demographics. Block (2004) does not agree with the
theory of a digital divide. Block says that there is no problem that needs to be refined. It is a
personal choice to become educated with new technology. Strangers to new technology have the
opportunity to introduce themselves and become acquainted with new programs and tools. Kiviat
(2010) referenced to a study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. The main assertion
is that blacks and Hispanics are on the Internet more often than whites. A higher percentage of
blacks and Hispanics own mobile phones. A total of 51 percent of Hispanics use their mobile
phones to access the Internet. Only 33 percent of whites use mobile devices to connect online.
However, there is a concern with the quality of mobile Internet. Mobile users are not
experiencing all of what the Internet has to offer. The Pew Research Center (2013) said that

Digital Divide 22
cellphone use has increased among Latinos since 2009. When it comes to owning a smartphone
and using mobile Internet, Latinos are just as connected as all other Americans. A total of 86
percent of Latinos own cellphones that can go online. However, Latinos lag whites when it
comes to owning a desktop computer. A total of 72 percent of Latinos own a desktop or laptop,
compared to 83 percent of whites. Almost half of the Latino populations live in cellphone only
households. Richtel (2012) said that the initial push to decrease the digital divide did not account
for how computers and other devices could be used strictly for entertainment reasons. Children
with parents without college degrees today are now spending 90 more minutes a day then
previous years engulfed in entertainment media. This daily intake of media on devices like
televisions, computers and tablets has increased almost five hours since 1999. The introduction
of new efforts to reduce the digital divide has created a negative side effect. The expansion of
electronic devices in low-income houses resulted in increased use of television, videos, playing
games and other non-productive activities on the web by children. Bahrampour (2013) said that
total of 76 percent of Latinos use mobile Internet compared to 60 percent of whites. The author
agrees that even though Latinos are accessing the Internet more smartphones cannot replace
more comprehensive online devices at home.
This document will be useful in my final paper when comparing inputs on mobile
Internet use. Since Castillo agreed with most of the information I have already researched I will
be able to compare this information with other articles in my final paper. I will include her input
in the section talking about the benefits of increased Internet connectivity.

Digital Divide 23
Book
Monroe, J. B. (2004) Crossing the digital divide: race, writing, and technology in the classroom.
New York: Teachers College Press.
The main assertion of this book is that there are several issues in literacy education for
students of color. Barbara Jean Monroe expresses her concern with the introduction of
technology in classrooms and making sure its a positive change that benefits the learning
environment. In the book she references multiple case studies where communities are bridging
the gap between literacy and new technology. Monroe focuses on secondary schools of color
whose first language may not be English. The book emphasizes the struggles of being on the
other side of the digital divide. The misdistribution of wealth has caused an unbalance of Internet
access across the U.S. and around the globe. Monroe says that the connection between education
and income has always been problematic. She said a consistent finding of Asian American and
Euro-Americans achieve higher levels of education. One explanation Monroe suggested is that
white couples inherited wealth, while nonwhite couples did not. Systematic racism has insured
that certain groups of race never accumulate enough wealth to pass on to future generations. This
theory could explain the difference in educational achievement among groups. She says that we
are selling the economic benefits of Internet access to the poor and public as the key to the
vault. Monroe says that we should focus on the benefits of interconnectivity between students,
schools, classrooms, and universities. Monroe does not believe that the correction
interconnectivity will happen within our lifetime. Computer literacy is an essential job
requirement.
Since she is covering both sides of the divide I do not believe she is being bias. Monroe
applies previous knowledge, referencing to other studies to encourage educators to recognize the

Digital Divide 24
case histories and use these examples to benefit their own classroom strategies. Unfortunately I
have yet to find anymore published or written work by the author. The Teachers College Press
focuses on publishing books that relate directly to education. The general audience that
purchases and reads the online books and prints are pre-teaching students, teachers and
professors. Upon reading a few reviews I have discovered its management positions are
predominantly older, more experienced editors and publishers. Since the Teachers College Press
is focused on benefiting future education I believe Monroes book focuses on how to better our
education environment on both sides of the digital divide. Barbara Monroe started teaching in the
Houston area in 1969. Monroe believed that a good English education should be critical literacy,
not just literacy. She has taught classes at all levels of education including preschool and college
courses. She taught Mexican migrant workers as well as Libyan oilmen. Monroe received her
doctorate from the University of Texans in 1992.
I was unaware that certain minorities may not have had enough wealth to pass on to
future generations. This Is a strength because it suggest another side to the issue of the digital
divide. The book is very unique because it talks about the authors concern with the introduction
of technology in classrooms and making sure its a positive change. Even though this book was
published in 2004 the information is still relevant to making sure increased Internet access is
beneficial. However, since the book was published in 2004 some of the information was
outdated. There was also a focus on the other racial issues that didnt necessarily relate to my
topic on the digital divide. I only referenced to a few chapters that spoke about digital literacy
and problems within our education system.
The main assertion of this book is that there are several issues in literacy education for
students of color. Barbara Jean Monroe expresses her concern with the introduction of

Digital Divide 25
technology in classrooms and making sure its a positive change that benefits the learning
environment. Fleming (2012) that the majority of new college students are unaware of collegesearch tools, websites and virtual tours that could help aid in enrollment at schools that fit their
expectations. The author notes, the advance in new technology is allowing students to adventure
through colleges virtually, exploring different campuses, social life, living, academic offerings
and other student interests from home. Even with this advances in college touring and
enrollment, students around the United States are not allowed the same benefits due to a digital
divide. Although there are students who have access to these programs, websites and collegesearch engines, they do not have the knowledge base to discover and use these technological
tools. Booth (2013) said that introductions of iPads, computers, smartphones and other mobile
devices allow more interaction between the teacher and student. Most independent school
administrators have agreed the use of mobile devices can transform how students learn, create a
more engaging learning experience and initiate positive interaction between students, teachers
and the material. New studies have concluded that the introduction of mobile devices in grades
K-12 demonstrated increases in achievement, engagement, motivation and research skills.
Introducing new technology early will benefit the students knowledge of the devices functions
and enhance learning and research skills for the future. The Federal Communications
Commission (2012) said that owning a computer is a necessity in todays world. The main
assertion is that Americans who cannot gain access online are unable to fully participate in the
digital economy.
I will be able to include this portion of my research in in the introduction piece of my
final argumentative essay. Monroe gives a clear insight on the relationship between wealth and

Digital Divide 26
education. This will be effective when comparing to other articles and talking about the history
of the digital divide.

Digital Divide 27
Journal Article
Fleming N. (2012). Digital divide strikes college-admissions process. Education Week, 32(13),
14-15. Retrieved from http://tinyurl.com/azvvvt5
Nora Flemings discusses the impact of the digital divide among students who are
applying for colleges across the United States. The majority of new college students are unaware
of college-search tools, websites and virtual tours that could help aid in their future enrollment.
The author notes, the advance in new technology is allowing students to adventure through
colleges virtually, exploring different campuses, social life, living, academic offerings and other
student interests from home. Even with this advances in college touring and enrollment, students
around the U.S. are not allowed the same benefits due to a digital divide. Some students who
have access to these programs do not have the knowledge on how to use these technological
tools. Students now have access to multiple websites, such as Cappex, and Zinch to search for
potential schools. These websites provide step-by-step guides on admissions and virtual tours.
There are also websites that allow the student to create a profile matching the student with
schools that best suits them. These websites also benefit universities, making it easier to interact
with prospective students and saving time and money. Online admission games found on
Facebook and other social media sites have been directed at low-income students in the hope of
benefiting their future college admissions decisions. Not learning these online search skills in
high school sets students back, resulting in missed opportunities and poor decisions.
Nora Fleming is a writer for Education Week. She is also the author of the blog Beyond
School and a contributor to the Teach Beat blog. Fleming attended Emory University a private
research college in Atlanta, GA. She received her bachelors degree in journalism and American
studies. Fleming received her masters degree in media and public affairs for The George

Digital Divide 28
Washington University in Washington, D.C. Education Weeks is owned and operated by
Editorial Projects in Educations. The goal is to help organizations and citizens develop solutions
to difficult problems.
This document is recent and is focused primarily on the digital divide. Fleming talks
about how the digital divide impacts college enrollment, which I was unaware of. Fleming
referenced to web-based programs like Cappex, and College Board that help students select
certain colleges. She also referenced to the Federation for a Competitive Economy, which
provide statistics about schools in California with a high minority population. She also discusses
the idea of games and interactive sources that can only be accessed online. Once weakness of the
article is that it is shorter than most others I have seen; however, Fleming provides valuable
information about digital literacy, online growth, and virtual skills.
Nora Flemings discusses the impact of the digital divide among students who are
applying for colleges across the United States. The majority of new college students are unaware
of college-search tools, websites and virtual tours that could help aid in their future enrollment.
Berg (2013) said that she noticed the digital divide personally as soon as she started volunteering
at the public library. She explained that the older generation who had been working there for
decades did not use technology and worked strictly with paper documents. Simply, people of that
age just dont know how to use the new devices. Most likely if you are 40-years-old or younger
it is due to an economic struggle. Berg said social networks sites like Facebook a YouTube are
gateways for new users. These sites allow people to become familiar with URLs, Google
searches, and other basic internet strategies. Johnson (2013) said that that everyone should have
the ability to connect online. Johnson said that it is essential to have internet access when
applying for jobs, accessing government documents, and filing taxes. Johnson believes that the

Digital Divide 29
increase in mobile Internet is because of its availability. He said that Google is always available
to answer questions and new apps are being created, which is allowing more features for mobile
phones. Johnson referenced recent efforts that are trying to create free wireless Internet in cities.
Block (2004) said there is no problem that needs to be refined. He argues that the interest in
technology is not evenly spread through the subgroups of humanity. It is a personal choice to
become educated with new technology. People have different interests and different desires for
consumer goods, toys, needs and wants.
This in not one of my strongest documents, but I will be able to compare the information
about college enrollment to other issues about the digital divide. I will include this article in my
benefits section of increased connectivity.

Digital Divide 30
Journal Article
Billon, M., & Lera-Lopez F., & Marco, R. (2010). Differences in digitalization levels: a
multivariate analysis studying the global digital divide. Review of World Economics,
146(1), 39-73. Retrieved from http://tinyurl.com/ao83ljq
The main assertion of this article is to explain the difference in information and
communications technologies (ICT). The journal compares digitalization among countries, by
difference in development, socio-demographics, and institutional variables. The digital
development is still much higher in the developed world. The digital divide is increasing due to
differences in the speed and quality of Internet Access. The article says, The digital divide
refers to the gap between individuals, households, businesses, and geographic areas at different
socio-economic levels with regard to their opportunities to access information and
communication technologies and to their use for a wide variety of activities (pg. 42). Their
studies show that mobile phone subscribers, Internet users, and personal computers are more
equally distributed than secure Internet servers. The article says that the greater number of
Internet users, the greater probability that other users will migrate online. Economic development
is a significant determinant of those who are digitally divided. Their studies concluded there is a
positive and significant relationship between education and the digitalization. The pattern of PC,
Internet use and mobile phones use is associated with economic development and infrastructure
in that country.
Margarita Billon attended the University of Madrid and works in the Department of
Economic Development. Fernando Lera-Lopez attended the Public University of Navarre. She
also works in the Department of Economics. Rocio Marco works in the Department of Applied

Digital Divide 31
Economy. He attended the University of Madrid. The Real World Economics review is an open
access peer-reviewed academic journal.
A weakness about this journal article is that there is so much information that I am not
familiar with. Some of the terminology used I did not know the meaning to. Another weakness is
that the authors are not from the United States. I was unable to find enough information about
them since their profiles were in different languages. This was confusing since the article was
completely written in English. One strength about the article is that the authors provide an
immense amount of research and studies on information and communications technologies. They
provide numerous tables and graphs that explain their data. Near the end of the article the authors
provide a summary of their results. These summaries explain the relationship of digitalization to
other factors like economic growth, gross domestic products, and education. Another strength is
that the author gives a strong definition of the digital divide.
The main assertion of this article is to explain the difference in information and
communications technologies (ICT). The journal compares digitalization among countries, by
difference in development, socio-demographics, and institutional variables. During my
observation I realized that low-income families use public Internet access more than others.
While conducting my observation I noticed all of the computers had been filled upon my arrival.
There was a mix of race using the public computers. The majority of the people were Hispanic
and white. One man seemed over the age of 60 and was there to learn E-Book instructions. Over
the period of one hour I never saw a public computer that was not being used (McMinnville
2013). Crawford (2011) said that high-speed Internet is a gateway to enhancing peoples careers,
education and quality of life. High-speed Internet is referred to as a superhighway for
information compared to second-class wireless Internet. Over 200 million Americans have high-

Digital Divide 32
speed, wired Internet at home. These customers are targets for the next generation of Internet
services. However, we are still in a country where the poor and the working class cannot afford
access or use restricted wireless access. As our jobs, politics, healthcare, and entertainment move
online, millions of people are being left behind. Telecommunications have begun to divide us in
practice. If you are middle-class and located in an urban settlement, the Internet allows access to
a vast amount of information. However, if you are rural, poor, and a member of a minority
group, you are being left behind. Monroe (2004) said the misdistribution of wealth has caused an
unbalance of Internet access across the U.S. and around the globe. Monroe says that the
connection between education and income has always been problematic. She said a consistent
finding of Asian American and Euro-Americans achieve higher levels of education. One
explanation Monroe suggested is that white couples inherited wealth, while nonwhite couples did
not. Systematic racism has insured that certain groups of race never accumulate enough wealth to
pass on to future generations. This theory could explain the difference in educational
achievement among groups. She says that we are selling the economic benefits of Internet access
to the poor and public as the key to the vault.
I will be able to use this document in my final paper when I talk about digitalization,
education, and economic growth. I will also reference the articles definition of the digital divide.
This is the first article I have read that actually defines the public policy issue. The journal article
has theories and hypothesis that I will be able to include in my section of how the digital divide
was created.

Digital Divide 33
Journal Article
Manley, W. (2013). Digitalized to distraction. American libraries, 44(1). Retrieved from
http://tinyurl.com/afle6a3
The article said that many people use public libraries because they do not have access to a
computer, or they do not know how to use one. Manley said that the public library is a place that
can help close the digital divide. People can learn digital literacy, which is crucial and more
important than basic literacy. However, Manly says that digital learning can be distracting with a
high-definition screen and multiple applications. He explains that we live in a society that
glorifies multitasking. Manly believes that the introduction of new technology is harmful to both
civilization and our libraries. Manly warns that soon a modern novel will bear more resemblance
to a videogame than a piece of literature.
Will Manley has written on librarianship for more than 30 years. Manly is also the author
of nine books focusing on library science. Manley frequently writes for American Libraries
Magazine. He also is the author of the blog Wills World. American Libraries Magazine is
published six times per year, along with other digital supplements. Subscriptions are only
available to libraries and certain other institutions. The publication began in 1970 and included
information about science, technology, library architecture, budgeting, and other librarian
subjects of interest.
Since this is a trade article it is short in length. However, the author doesnt agree with
the benefits of increased technology, which numerous other authors agree about. This is a rare
point of view that only one other article I have read agrees upon. A strength of this article is that
it is recent and is from a Liberians point of view. A weakness about this article is that it does not
provide any hard statistics. It is only the opinion of one librarian. Another weakness is that I

Digital Divide 34
could not find much background on the author. However, the publisher seems reliable and the
relationship between libraries and digitalization is strong.
Manly warns that soon a modern novel will bear more resemblance to a videogame than a
piece of literature. Manly says that digital learning can be distracting with a high-definition
screen and multiple applications. He explains that we live in a society that glorifies multitasking.
Richtel (2012) said that the introduction of new efforts to reduce the digital divide has created a
negative side effect. The expansion of electronic devices in low-income houses resulted in
increased use of television, videos, playing games and other non-productive activities on the web
by children. Since there has been such a large growth in time-wasted online it is concluded that
parents are the reason for enforcing and monitoring their childrens online use. The initial push
to decrease the digital divide did not account for how computers and other devices could be used
strictly for entertainment reasons. Children with parents without college degrees today are now
spending 90 more minutes a day then previous years engulfed in entertainment media. This daily
intake of media on devices like televisions, computers and tablets has increased almost five
hours since 1999. The author uses examples of people who are abusing social media sites like
Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, taking up hours of constructive time and affecting their grades
and work performances. Block (2004) Block also argues the interest in technology is not evenly
spread through the subgroups of humanity. It is a personal choice to become educated with new
technology. Strangers to new technology have the opportunity to introduce themselves and
become acquainted with new programs and tools. Block argues that there are many division of
less concern among different demographics. If we are to focus on the digital divide between
the rich and poor then how come there is no concern with the division of valuable goods such as

Digital Divide 35
yachts, jewelry and cars? People have different interests and, therefore, different desires for
consumer goods, toys, needs and wants.
I will included this information I my section that disagrees there is a digital divide. I will
be able to compare Manleys opinion to other articles that are again digital advancement, or
dont believe there is a digital divide at all. This article was crucial because I do not have much
information for the other side of my argument. I believe that everyone should be allowed Internet
access at high-speeds, but I dont have much information that shows the negative aspect of
increased digitalization. This is a rare piece of information that I have obtained and will fit well
in my final paper.