Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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May 7, 2009

New Obama Plan Seeks Affordable Broadband Service for All US Homes
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Goal of $7 billion initiative is to deliver affordable high-speed
Internet service to people in rural, underserved communities 
President Barack Obama and the U.S. Congress have set aside more than $7
billion to build broadband Internet networks to bring high speed
computer access to every U.S. home. Policy makers say construction of
the network and its use will help create jobs in the global digital
economy. The goal is to deliver affordable broadband service to people
in rural and underserved communities. Growing number of older Americans
using Internet"The first thing basically that I do when I get on the
Internet is generally I go directly to my email," Mona Hunnicutt
explains. Vivian Leeper browses the Internet Hunnicutt, 58, spends more
than two hours a day on the computer. She and 75-year-old Vivian Leeper
are semi-retired and are among a growing number of older Americans who
use high speed Internet everyday. "You're forced more or less to get
into using the computer and surfing the web and all to get your
information," Leeper said. They use the Internet at work and at home to
download medical information, handle financial matters and keep in touch
with family. Studies [by Senior Net and Charles Schwab] suggest more
than 50 million Americans over the age of 50 use the Internet. But many
seniors cannot afford $30 - $40 a month for a high speed connection. "I
feel that seniors should be given priority discounts because a lot of
seniors are on fixed incomes," Hunnicutt said. "And I think a lot of
them really would use the Internet more. But they know that it is
expensive."New plan seeks affordable broadband service

President Barack Obama and some members of the U.S. Congress want to
change that. As part of the economic stimulus, they approved more than
$7 billion to launch a program that will deliver affordable broadband or
high speed Internet access across the country. "I stand by my goal of
ensuring that every American has broadband access," Mr. Obama said. "No
matter where you live, no matter how much money you have or don't have."
Daniel Wilson is executive director for program development for The
National Caucus and Center on Black Aged. The organization works with
those who provide broadband connections, such as AT&T and who teach low
income African American senior citizens computer skills. He says the key
is to make broadband affordable. "Many seniors that we talk to, do have
the broadband," Wilson said. "But a lot of them do complain the price is
a little but more than what they would be able to comfortably
afford."Advocates estimate 43 million U.S. households still use slower
connections through telephone lines. Julius Hollis, founder of the
nonprofit Alliance for Digital Equality, promotes broadband usage for
unserved or underserved minority communities.

"Parallel with building an infrastructure we have to look at the
applications that we are using in broadband to better prepare our U.S.
consumers how to functional in this digital world," Hollis said.

Broadband is useful tool for seniors

Richard Reeves, 75, pays his bills online. He spends countless hours
browsing the Web, researching topics and sending digital photographs to
his family and friends. Reeves believes 85 percent of seniors would use
the Internet if they had high speed connections."Seniors have health
issues and they can go on line and they can find things," Reeves said.
"They have access to any health plan they have, everybody has a Web site
and they can get on to it. One study [by the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development] says the country has dropped from fourth in
the world to 15th in broadband penetration. And advocates say nationwide
access would help not only seniors but anybody who relies on digital
technology. 


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