Is Internet Access a Basic Human Right?
My short answer to the question above is “Not yet, but it will be.” Just as education is a basic human right, so is Internet access. People without Internet access will continue to fall further behind in our flat
First, there are numerous online educational tools. Picture a college student who cannot afford to attend class every day since the class meets during her work hours. In the past, she would have to give up school for work in order to pay the bills. Now, she can both work and take classes. She can take online classes completing reading and assignments after work. Without the Internet she wouldn’t have the freedom to choose.
When it comes time to conduct her research she also has access to countless books, journal articles, images, forums, etc. She can e-mail her friends for suggestions. She can send her paper to classmates for feedback before she turns it in for a final grade. She couldn’t do this without the Internet.
Second, school applications are all online. Paper applications for colleges and universities are a thing of the past. The only thing that’s done on paper anymore in the application process is recommendation letters. Online school applications are a reality. With the Internet, students can apply to more schools in a shorter amount of time and make well-informed decisions. Students can choose the school that will meet their educational and professional goals. They could probably do the same with paper applications, but that would take weeks. If their questions aren’t answered in the mailed information they would have to try calling the school and finding someone to answer their question. With the Internet all they would have to do is search the site.
With all of that saved time in applying for schools online, students can look up grants online as well. They can find grants that suit their needs. Again, finding paper grants would take too long. Students can apply for schools and grants all in one sitting online if they like.
Third, job seekers have to fill out job applications online, even if they meet their employer in person. Companies who conduct most of their business online or who communicate with each other via the Internet use the online application as a weed-out process. It’s a simple test. Do you have basic proficiency with the Internet? Can you find this application? Can you fill it out correctly? Can you upload pertinent documents? The person without Internet access will not find these jobs and may not have the tools or wherewithal to properly apply for them. Is reading and writing a basic human right? Is education? Internet access is too. As long as Internet access is not available to all, the gap between rich and poor will only continue to widen.
Fourth, the Internet is an equalizer. The Internet gives the rich and the poor access to education, information, grants, job applications, government money, blogging, social networking etc. The Internet does not discriminate based on socioeconomic status. The information is available to everyone. We just have to make the access available to everyone. Arne Duncan are you listening?
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Great article!
I spent the last year without home internet access because me and my girlfriend couldn’t afford it. We were lucky to find sympathetic cafe owners who would let us use their wi fi connection without buying anything.
We had no money for internet connection yet we needed internet connection to find work and information to help our situation.
last week I had exactley the same thought that you outlined above. Why is this information only for those that can afford it. Internet access should be provided free for all. If governments can fund the continual expansion of global and homebased security then surely free internet access for all is possible or at the very least it should not be ran for profit.
The only reason free internet is not being rolled out is because governments and telecoms companies don’t want to.
@Kevin,
Thanks for the comment. I’ve been in your situation before as well. I needed the Internet to find a job. Since I didn’t have a job, the Internet was a luxury I couldn’t afford–food, heat, gasoline being priorities.
You are right. The Internet should be free for all. It’s possible. Interest groups, earmarks, lobbyists et al. are holding it back.
How nice it was today to have Internet access when the radiator on my car blew out. I was able to find an ATM to get the cash after finding a highly rated auto mechanic through yelp. If I didn’t have the Internet, the entire process would have taken a lot longer to say the least
I like this. I’m teaching a computer mediated communication class. I’m going to post a link to this article for discussion.
@ Terri, I hope it generates some discussion amongst your students regarding internet usage and equality.