The global digital economy has meant changes in job function and greater segregation by gender. The enthusiasm for electronic commerce is driving the deployment of new infrastructure. But there is a growing digital divide between the haves and have nots.
Rural areas tend to lag behind urban areas in terms of development.
The gap between rural and urban per capita earnings in America is growing and rural areas' share of U.S. employment is decreasing. The U.S. government's approach to telecommunications of deregulation and reliance on the private sector differs from the international sector. Key policy issues for the United States include eliminating barriers to entry, encouraging competition, maintaining universal service, and developing telemedicine initiatives. In Papua New Guinea there is incredible cultural diversity more than 800 languages alone and biodiversity as well. The same environment that has caused communities to be very isolated has also impeded the development of roads, post offices, electricity, and telecommunications facilities.