[Notes from Personal Democracy Forum 2007 in New York]
The digital divide is getting worse. Ten years ago companies etc weren’t all networked. In ten years everyone in power has massive network access, but the disadvantaged still have next to none.
But in New York city today the average kid spends one hour a week using a computer. Call for action: Who is America’s first tech president? They have six questions or points they want candidates to either endorse or offer alternatives to.
- Let’s declare the internet a public good. Make it as ubiquitous as clean water. It should be everywhere.
- Copyright and control: we need to guarantee that wireless public spectrum is available and free – wifi, not proprietary cables.
- Go from no child left behind to each child connected.
- Firm support of net neutrality.
- Firm commitment to creating a connected democracy, where our citizens can actually listen to what is happening – hardly any representatives in congress put information on what bills they voted on on their websites.
- We need a national guard of techies to help get communications up again after a national emergency – for instance this was a difficult issue after Katrina. This bill was passed, but administration isn’t doing anything to build it.
Will be doing a press briefing etc on this and putting the petition up online.
