Digital inclusion

Digital inclusion is the ability of individuals and groups to access and use
information and communication technologies. "Communications services and
technological innovations should be accessible and affordable to all because of the
implications they have for the sustained economic development. The three
elements supporting the success of technology in cities are broadband (commonly
understood as high-speed Internet) access, broadband adoption (understanding how
it can be used) and the effective application of it."
Digital Inclusion is therefore concerned with addressing inequalities, where those
unable to access the affordance of technologies are, disadvantaged, marginalised in
society and therefore digitally excluded. In addition to equality, explicit and
implicit definitions of digital inclusion encompass a number of inter-related
concepts of Access, Use, Empowerment and Participation.

To help explain digital inclusion, we've created a Digital Inclusion Info

graphic.
Access and use of information and communication technologies impacts
individuals and the community as a whole. The technology itself is the tool. A
digitally inclusive community is important to economic and workforce
development, civic participation, education, healthcare, and public safety.
Building a digitally inclusive community requires participation and support from
all sectors: libraries, community based organizations, business and government and
policy makers. Digital inclusion strategies vary widely. Even projects that seem
similar are implemented differently, often to accommodate local populations and
utilize existing resources

 The populations least likely to be online include the less educated, individuals with
lower incomes, seniors, and persons with disabilities.
The most common reasons an indivudal would not be an internet user and/or have
a home broadband service are cost (of the technology and/or the home broadband
service), relevance and lack of digital skills.

The following terms are often used to describe digital inclusion efforts:
Broadband Adoption The national Broadband Plan defines the barriers of
broadband adoption as cost, digital literacy and relevance.
Digital Literacy- Digital literacy is the ability to use information and
communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate
information; it requires both technical and cognitive skills.
Community Technology Centers (CTCs) or Public Computing Centers (PCCs)
Computer labs providing free access to technology and technology training. Some
locations also provide free wifi. Outside of the United States, they are referred to
as telecentres.

Benefit from Enhanced Digital Inclusion

The four main areas of potential economic benefit from enhanced digital inclusion:
Improved education and employment outcomes, for example as individuals
enhance their qualifications and this improves their earnings and/or their
probability of finding employment;
Improved health and well-being outcomes, for example through access to
improved health information and health services;

 Efficiency savings for public service providers enabled by greater use of online
information and
Potential benefits for consumers able to purchase a wider range of products at
lower prices."

Actions to tackle digital exclusion

Digital Inclusion Charter signatories to address the barriers that have stopped
people going online by delivering a set of ten actions:
1. Make digital inclusion part of wider government policy, programmes and digital
services.
2. Establish a quality cross-government digital capability programme
3. Give all civil servants the digital capabilities to use and improve government
services
4. Agree a common definition of digital skills and capabilities
5. Boost goes on Partnership Programme across the country
6. Improve and extend partnership working
7. Create a shared language for digital inclusion
8. Bring digital capability support into one place
9. Deliver a digital inclusion programme to support small and medium enterprises
(SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs)
10. Use data to measure performance and improve what we do

Increase of Digital Inclusion

Technology and internet access strategies for individuals include:
Public access computers.
Computers accessible to defined populations (such as residents of a housing

complex).
Free wifi hotspots.
Low cost options for home computer purchasing.
Partnering with broadband providers to offer low cost broadband.
Extending broadband service into rural areas lacking reasonable cost high speed

broadband.
Digital literacy and other technology training in trusted and comfortable locations
(libraries, community centers, churches, schools, recreation centers, senior centers,
etc) supported by trained computer instructors, librarians and lab monitors.
Training that focuses on the outcome (such as job searching) rather than the
technology. This approach is often referred to as project based learning.
Youth digital media projects guiding young people toward professional technology
use and civic engagement.
Technology training and guidance for small businesses.
Accessibility technology and strategies for persons with disabilities.
Awareness campaigns highlighting the relevancy of broadband for target
populations.
Technology fairs focused on community members sharing and teaching each other.
Civic engagement training that teaches community members how to engage online
with government.

Barriers to Digital Inclusion

 34% of non-internet users think the internet is just not relevant to them, saying
they are not interested, do not want to use it, or have no need for it.
32% of non-internet users cite reasons tied to their sense that the internet is not
very easy to use. These non-users say it is difficult or frustrating to go online,
they are physically unable, or they are worried about other issues such as spam,
spyware, and hackers. This figure is considerably higher than in earlier surveys.
19% of non-internet users cite the expense of owning a computer or paying for
an internet connection.
7% of non-users cited a physical lack of availability or access to the internet.
Older individuals and those with more income are more likely to say they are
not interested as reasons for not using the Internet at home, controlling for other

factors.
However, the poor, Latinos, females, and those with less education are
significantly more likely to cite affordability as the main reason for not having
the Internet at home.