vocabulary

1. America Offline- InternetforEveryone.org is working to shed light on the millions of Americans who live without regular Internet access or lack the training or equipment to get online. A small reporting team is traveling to urban and rural communities across the country to tell people's stories. On this site, you can follow our trek from rural North Carolina to urban Los Angeles, Calif., and Washington, D.C.
   Having a connection to fast, open and affordable Internet is no longer a luxury – it’s a public necessity. But America is suffering from a “digital divide.” Tens of millions of people – more than 40 percent of the country – can’t get online because they can't afford a connection or can't access high-speed Internet where they live. Consider the facts:
   • Only 35 percent of homes with less than $50,000 in annual income have broadband, while 76 percent of homes earning more than $50,000 per year are connected.
   • Nearly 20 million Americans live in places that are not served by a single broadband provider, while tens of millions more live in places where there is just one provider.
   • Only 40 percent of ethnic minority households subscribe to broadband, while 55 percent of non-Hispanic white households are connected.
2. digital divide-The digital divide refers to the gap between individuals, households, businesses and geographic areas at different socio-economic levels with regard both to their opportunities to access information and communications technologies (ICT's) and to their use of the Internet for a wide variety of activities.
3. Unequal Access-Broadband in America today is not equally accessible. Broadband subscribers are largely middle- or upper-class and living in urban or suburban areas. Poorer communities and communities of color as well as communities in rural settings have been largely left off the grid.
   One of the main problems faced by those on the wrong side of the digital divide is the difficulty of participating in civic affairs. Where political discussions and decisions increasingly occur via the Web, there is significant risk that groups without adequate access will be underrepresented in our democracy.
4. Innovators-nnovators or pioneers innovate in a particular field, i.e. "Mr. Smith is a pioneer in the teaching profession...", first recorded in 1780s.^[
5. What are the options for better Access?
6. Explain the Final Recommendations?
7. What could be done to increase internet access and create more choices for communities nationwide?
8. What actions need to be taken to keep the internet open for users and innovators?