ALBANY, NY - January 11, 2002 - The New York State Forum for Information Resource Management (The Forum) of the Rockefeller Institute of Government has released a white paper entitled The Digital Divide: Understanding and Addressing the Challenge, authored by Christopher P. Latimer, Esq. The "digital divide" white paper represents an illuminating first step in a Forum action plan intended to achieve the creation of enlightened policies, regulations and laws that directly address and close the digital divide in New York State.
In recent years the digital divide has received considerable attention as the Internet has matured and afforded an ever more promising array of opportunities to access learning and health services, conduct research, secure needed commercial goods and services, qualify for and receive government services and maintain instant worldwide communications for personal, business and governmental purposes. The "digital divide" is most often characterized by the single dimension of "access" (i.e. those who "have" or "have no" access to the Internet at home, work or in the community). The aim of this Forum white paper is the creation of a fuller and more informed understanding of the multidimensional nature of the digital divide, upon which New York might build deliberate efforts to create effective, long-term, equitable solutions.
The paper illuminates a number of issues inherent to the digital divide that to date, have received little attention since most of the literature has focused on the simple notion of access to the Internet. As but two examples of how far the consequences of this phenomenon depart from one of simply access, the white paper cites how the digital divide may result in a growing shift of the sales tax burden to those who can least afford to pay it and how crucial, yet difficult, it is to develop a base level of competency in the use of the Internet if its benefits are to be fully and equitably realized by New York's constituents.
An immediate outcome of undertaking and releasing the digital divide white paper is the fact that it is serving as a foundation upon which a statewide digital divide conference is being planned by The Forum in conjunction with the Center for Urban Youth and Technology of the School of Education at the University at Albany, the Black, Puerto Rican and Hispanic Legislative Caucus and the University Center for Academic and Workforce Development. Tentatively planned for the summer of 2002. This conference is being designed to engage state and local government policy and legislative leadership, nonprofit organizations and the corporate sector in a dialog intended to identify effective practices and stimulate discussion of new approaches to addressing the digital divide. Beyond a conference, The Forum is committed to hosting working sessions with state policy and legislative leadership to bring creative ideas to fruition as new policies, regulations and legislation aimed at closing the divide.
The Forum previously released a number of other white papers including a recent series related to information privacy issues authored by Mr. Latimer. The Privacy Series includes specific titles related to A Criminal Justice Overview; An International Perspective; Protection of Minors, and The Healthcare Debate. Copies of the new white paper entitled The Digital Divide: Understanding and Addressing the Challenge are being distributed at no charge to Forum member institutions and staff. Others desiring copies of this or other white papers should contact Rebecca Buchner at (518) 443-5001 or rbuchner@nysfirm.org.
NYSFIRM is a member organization of information resource management leadership in New York state and local government agencies whose mission is to promote policies and practices for effective development, use and management of information resources in New York State. For further information about NYSFIRM programs call (518) 443-5001 or email info@nysfirm.org. Visit NYSFIRM online at http://www.nysfirm.org.
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