As sure as clockwork, whenever there is a discussion of the advances the internet and technology provide, someone will bring up the digital divide. Not sure what they expect the folks in the discussion to do about it – hold all progress until the divide is conquered? Of course, it’s the progress itself that will close the divide by creating demand and efficiency and thus scale and affordability.
Once upon a time in America, there was a literacy divide, a print divide, a radio divide, a phone divide, a TV divide, a mobile phone divide. They are all just about gone thanks to this dynamic of progress creating demand.
I have confidence that the divide will close. That said, I’m quite happy to see it hurried along. The divide I’m most concerned about now is the next one: the broadband divide. I’m hoping that President Obama’s CTO makes that job no. 1.
