No Access Can Be an Opportunity in the Wings

Last week, as I drove down the road listening to NPR, my mind was captured by a statement that the FCC is exploring ways to bring broadband access to the whole country at an economical price.  It’s a good challenge to try and achieve.  In the meantime, have you stopped to consider what life is like for families who do not have internet access or a computer?

In today’s world, searching for a job or applying for a job often requires submission through the internet.  Most applications now ask for an email address even if you are applying in person.  Students do research for weekly work via the internet and sometimes even submit homework by this means. The internet, its usage and access, has created a silent unseen divide in our communities; those who have computer/internet and those who do not.  

The story I listened to on NPR told the story of a single mother with three children who was seeking a job and her struggles to apply for positions, list an email address, and stay connected to follow-up as she did not have either a computer or internet.  Her children attended a school near an upper middle class neighborhood where students were often required to post homework via computer/internet and the story told of the challenges this family faced trying to get to a library or get the children to school early enough to use the school computer.  Public computers, such as in libraries and schools which aren’t always free, are few and far between.  Getting time on a computer is valuable.  Hours available are small.  A family without a computer or internet constantly struggles with finding access.  

I have become obvious to the inability to be connected as my job uses a computer and I even have access to the web and broadband via my phone with my “3G network”.   If these 21^st century tools fail me, I feel my arm has been severed or my oxygen intact has been dampened and I’m gasping and choking to breath.

What would your life be like without a computer?  Without being able to read emails?  Without logging on to Facebook or surfing the Internet?  Without using a word processor to type out a document?  These are the struggles for many Americans today.  It’s a silent struggle.  You don’t talk about it because it’s embarrassing. You are impaired.  No computer?  No internet?  What???

The FCC’s attempt to meet the challenge to bring broadband across the country is no small task.  Making it economical is no small task either.  So consider this, what if you, your church, could provide free WiFi access and/or free computer usage?  Talk about an outreach program!  What if…..?