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Council bid to ‘bridge digital divide’
(24-01-08) - The nominees for the final category at this year's Internet Service Providers' Association (ISPA) awards have been revealed at last.
A Birmingham City Council cabinet member has appealed to broadband providers to reduce the cost of their services in order to make the internet more accessible to low-income households.
Conservative councillor Les Lawrence, council cabinet member for children, young people and families, said that the digital divide remained clear as Government figures show that there are more than 800,000 pupils without internet access at home.
“21st century children and young people wishing to achieve economic wellbeing when they leave full-time education need to have the skills required by 21st century employers, including literacy, numeracy, communications and IT," he said.
“It is time that the suppliers of broadband internet connections look at ways that they can reduce the cost for families that have children and young people at home requiring internet access for academic studies. This will need an integrated up approach between the internet suppliers, the government, local authorities and IT charities to be able to drive down prices.”
The appeal comes only weeks after the Government pledged £30 million in funding to help poorer families get online, where Jim Knight, minister for schools and learners, said: “We have the highest levels of embedded technology in classrooms in the European Union and one computer for every three pupils. The next step is home access for all,” but warned that the digital divide cannot be allowed to “reinforce social and academic divisions”.
Michael Phillips, BroadbandChoices.co.uk product director, said: “Relatively cheap broadband, and even “free broadband”, is available from providers such as TalkTalk (www.TalkTalk.co.uk). However, the overall price - when you take into account line rental and what else you have to take into account to get your “freebie” means that many low-income families are still unable to afford broadband at home, and I welcome any action that helps to minimise the rift between the broadband-haves and the have-nots.”
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