In recent years, the use of computers and the Internet has exploded. Unfortunately, not everyone has had the benefit of this critical resource, so necessary for success in the modern world. The unfortunate fact is, better-educated Americans are more likely to be connected than those who are not. This divide shows up most significantly in the difference between high and low-income Americans. We see this same trend when we look at schools.
Wealthier schools are more likely to be connected to the Internet than poorer schools.
In wealthy schools, three quarters of classrooms are connected to the Internet, compared to less than 40 percent for America's poorest schools. And people with disabilities are half as likely to have access to technology as people without disabilities. Fortunately, we have a President and a Vice President who have a strong record of working to bridge the Digital Divide. And although they couldn't be here with us today, I want to say on behalf of President Clinton and Vice President Gore, that they are committed to ensuring that every child in America has the opportunity to become technologically literate. But, President Clinton and Vice President Gore set the goal of connecting every classroom and library to the Internet.