By Congressman Joseph R. Pitts One of the best-loved descriptions of America is the phrase land of opportunity. Once a young nation with a seemingly limitless frontier, anyone could come here from the Old World and make his way on his own merits. Computers have revolutionized America s economy. Information that was once hard to find is available in seconds. Comparison-shopping can be done from home.
Language is the only barrier to communication with almost any spot in the world.
Not every American has access to this revolution in information, commerce, and communication, however. Access to the information superhighway requires a computer with Internet access, and not everyone can afford to buy a computer. Demand in these public facilities is often much higher than the available computer time. So we face a dilemma. Those who lack regular and convenient access to the Internet are finding themselves further and further behind the vanguard of American business and culture.