A new campaign in the United States is requesting better quality Internet broadband access for all Americans. Bring Betty Broadband is a petition declaring broadband service a human right.
The increasing move to the Internet of almost every facet of life is a concern for the group, which believes that doing so can cut off disenfranchised people from their communities. Price, access, and lack of interest are the main hurdles to overcome, they say.
Using the tagline “Betty deserves better”, the group claims to represent all Americans, especially those minorities who currently do not have the benefit of fast Internet connection. Without it, they say, those people are deprived of such things as job applications and local information.
Specifically, Bring Betty Broadband predicts that the recent proposal in the US to put health care records online will result in poorer health care quality for some.
Another motive for the campaign is to get people more interested in the Internet by making them aware of its role in modern society and its potential for them. Bring Betty Broadband cites survey results which suggest that 55% of the population believe they don’t need the Internet, and 13% find it too complicated.
The campaign stipulates a general request from the government to consider all Americans as they move towards their $7.2 billion national broadband plan. Other suggestions include education in digital literacy for young and old, local councils to uphold “digital inclusion principles”, and more competitive prices for home computers.
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