Element 1 - Digital Access
SMART Learning Objectives
![Digital Access](/uploads/7/0/1/9/70199053/published/1.jpg?1494462673)
After reviewing the content in this workshop, you should be able to perform the following:
1. Define Digital Access
2. Explain the importance of Digital Access
3. Describe reasons certain demographics have limited Digital Access
1. Define Digital Access
2. Explain the importance of Digital Access
3. Describe reasons certain demographics have limited Digital Access
![Digital Access](/uploads/7/0/1/9/70199053/published/1-access.jpg?1494710430)
Digital Access Overview
In the book Digital Citizenship in Schools, Digital Access is defined as complete electronic participation and access to the internet in society (Ribble, 2015). Although access to the internet has been prevalent in the United States since the early 1990s, levels of equal access vary among demographics still exist in 2017. Groups who suffer in these areas include lower income households, people with disabilities due to physical accessibility, and access limited by geographical constraints. To address this divide, socioeconomic awareness among student population is key for school administrators to provide equal access for all (Ribble, 2015).
In the book Digital Citizenship in Schools, Digital Access is defined as complete electronic participation and access to the internet in society (Ribble, 2015). Although access to the internet has been prevalent in the United States since the early 1990s, levels of equal access vary among demographics still exist in 2017. Groups who suffer in these areas include lower income households, people with disabilities due to physical accessibility, and access limited by geographical constraints. To address this divide, socioeconomic awareness among student population is key for school administrators to provide equal access for all (Ribble, 2015).
![Best States for Internet Access](/uploads/7/0/1/9/70199053/published/1-access1.jpg?1494710557)
The issue of digital exclusion is growing in the United States. According to 2015 census data, about one-fifth of Americans do not have home internet access. The divide among states is apparent, from Washington and New Hampshire having 12 percent of residents lacking a home internet subscription, to Mississippi, where 34 percent of households living without broadband internet. Private and government initiatives exist to help narrow disparity of digital access between States and communities including ConnectHome program by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Google Fiber. The importance of digital access has a direct impact on economic outcomes, with 55 percent of employers look for candidates with computer skills (Galvin, 2017).
![Picture](/uploads/7/0/1/9/70199053/published/1-mil-access.jpg?1494710888)
Connections to Digital Access
As a federal employee working for the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC), digital access is paramount for performing the majority of work assignments. Due to the intelligence mission of NASIC, multiple networks are used to communicate unclassified, secret, and top secret information. The main drawback with these systems are the age of operating systems, applications, and hardware. Government networks relying on Microsoft based operating systems often are using older versions due the cost and time it takes to upgrade the number of systems across the enterprise. Additionally, hardware (desktop PCs) are often purchased using year-end funding and not immediately put into service. It is not unusual to receive a “new” desktop computer that was purchased five years ago. This often results in a disparity between hardware performance and application demands that degrade processing speed and impact productivity in the form of system speed and downtime.
As a federal employee working for the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC), digital access is paramount for performing the majority of work assignments. Due to the intelligence mission of NASIC, multiple networks are used to communicate unclassified, secret, and top secret information. The main drawback with these systems are the age of operating systems, applications, and hardware. Government networks relying on Microsoft based operating systems often are using older versions due the cost and time it takes to upgrade the number of systems across the enterprise. Additionally, hardware (desktop PCs) are often purchased using year-end funding and not immediately put into service. It is not unusual to receive a “new” desktop computer that was purchased five years ago. This often results in a disparity between hardware performance and application demands that degrade processing speed and impact productivity in the form of system speed and downtime.
NPR Audio Broadcasts
1. FCC Chief Makes Case for Tackling Net Neutrality Violations 'After the Fact'
May 5, 2017 – Length: 4:36
Summary: FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is repealing Obama-era regulations for Internet providers. He tells NPR he prefers taking targeted action against actual harms, not preemptively regulating hypothetical ones (Greene, D and Selyuka, 2017).
1. FCC Chief Makes Case for Tackling Net Neutrality Violations 'After the Fact'
May 5, 2017 – Length: 4:36
Summary: FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is repealing Obama-era regulations for Internet providers. He tells NPR he prefers taking targeted action against actual harms, not preemptively regulating hypothetical ones (Greene, D and Selyuka, 2017).
Link to original broadcast and transcript: http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2017/05/05/526916610/fcc-chief-net-neutrality-rules-treating-internet-as-utility-stifle-growth
2. A Primer on The Future of Net Neutrality Under Trump
Apr 29, 2017 – Length: 3:42
Summary: The Federal Communications Commission is taking steps to repeal regulations for Internet service providers that the FCC approved in 2015 (Selyuka, 2017).
Link to original broadcast and transcript: http://www.npr.org/2017/04/29/526157951/a-primer-on-the-future-of-net-neutrality-under-trump
References
Galvin, G (2017). States Struggle to Bridge Digital Divide. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved from https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/2017-03-16/internet-access-a-staple-of-american-life-yet-millions-remain-under-connected
Greene, D. and Selyuka, A. (Host and Editor). (2017, April 29). Morning Edition [Radio Series] National Public Radio. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2017/05/05/526916610/fcc-chief-net-neutrality-rules-treating-internet-as-utility-stifle-growth
Ribble, M. (2015). Digital citizenship in schools. Eugene, Or: International Society for Technology in Education.
Selyuka, A. (Host and Editor). (2017, April 29). Weekend Edition Saturday [Radio Series] National Public Radio. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/2017/04/29/526157951/a-primer-on-the-future-of-net-neutrality-under-trump
Galvin, G (2017). States Struggle to Bridge Digital Divide. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved from https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/2017-03-16/internet-access-a-staple-of-american-life-yet-millions-remain-under-connected
Greene, D. and Selyuka, A. (Host and Editor). (2017, April 29). Morning Edition [Radio Series] National Public Radio. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2017/05/05/526916610/fcc-chief-net-neutrality-rules-treating-internet-as-utility-stifle-growth
Ribble, M. (2015). Digital citizenship in schools. Eugene, Or: International Society for Technology in Education.
Selyuka, A. (Host and Editor). (2017, April 29). Weekend Edition Saturday [Radio Series] National Public Radio. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/2017/04/29/526157951/a-primer-on-the-future-of-net-neutrality-under-trump