The prediction, in brief:

In the information age, access is a more complex proposition that requires support for users as well as information content … There is good evidence that policy directives through the Information Infrastructure Task Force have resulted in broad investments across a range of domestic-assistance programs. Such policy directives should be formalized into Congressional findings in legislative proposals for telecommunications reform. These findings should accent the roles of public libraries and local non-profit organizations in supporting universal service goals.

Predictor: Civille, Richard

Prediction, in context:

The 1995 book “Public Access to the Internet,” edited by Brian Kahin and James Keller carries the chapter, “The Internet and the Poor” by Richard Civille, executive director of the Center for Civic Networking, a non-profit organization dedicated to the application of information infrastructure to community and economic development. He writes:”Universal policy can level the playing field in some respects by supporting community-based public access network services. The driving characteristic of universal service over the past 60 years has been access to plain old telephone service (POTS). In the information age, access is a more complex proposition that requires support for users as well as information content … There is good evidence that policy directives through the Information Infrastructure Task Force have resulted in broad investments across a range of domestic-assistance programs. Such policy directives should be formalized into Congressional findings in legislative proposals for telecommunications reform. These findings should accent the roles of public libraries and local non-profit organizations in supporting universal service goals.”

Date of prediction: January 1, 1995

Topic of prediction: Community/Culture

Subtopic: General

Name of publication: Public Access to the Internet (book)

Title, headline, chapter name: The Internet and the Poor

Quote Type: Direct quote

Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Page 199

This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne