A human rights perspective on the digital divide

Significant inequities exist in access to telecommunications technologies and services globally – including in the United States (Haywood, 1995: 114-126). A number of major studies in recent years have illustrated major disparities in access to the Internet for certain minorities, the poor, and people living in certain geographic areas (NTIA, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000; Hoffman and Novak, 1999). This has become an increasingly critical issue as access to advanced telecommunications and information technologies becomes increasingly necessary to function in society.