Information gaps: myth or reality?

The rising importance of information technologies is said to threaten ever wider gaps between groups in society. This article considers to what extent the warning are valid. The author traces the history of the introduction in the USA of the telephone, electricity and other innovations and finds that all have followed the same pattern -- access was limited in the early stages. He concludes that there is no need to act precipitously to improve access to information technologies and, in any case, the type of action needed is not at all obvious. As the world's work force becomes wealthier and technology costs decline, the differences in all aspects of living standards will decrease.

Universal access to online services: An examination of the issue

Universal service for telephone service is a widely held social and economic objective in industrialized societies. In the so-called 'Information age', some social commentators and policymakers have suggested that Information access must be universal to eliminate perceived information gaps. But while Western societies have historically made communication processes universal (mail service, telephone), they have not done the same for information (subsidized newspapers and books in libraries and schools, but not to each household). The distinction between communication and information may continue to serve as a model for the concept of what should be the focus of universal access policy.

Communications policy in transition : the Internet and beyond /

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