Falling Through the Net : Toward Digital Inclusion

The digital economy is moving our Nation toward greater prosperity. Our goal at the Commerce Department is to ensure that all Americans - regardless of age, income, race, ethnicity, disability, or geography - gain access to the technological tools and skills needed in the new economy. Falling Through the Net: Toward Digital Inclusion is a key part of the Department's ongoing efforts to promote full participation in the digital economy. It is important for our Nation to measure and analyze how the digital economy is affecting its citizens. I am pleased that the data in this report show that, overall, our Nation is moving toward full digital inclusion. The number of Americans who are utilizing electronic tools in every aspect of their lives is rapidly increasing. However, a digital divide still remains. The report shows that not everyone is moving at the same speed, and identifies those groups that are progressing more slowly. The report also is rich with insights into how Americans are gaining access to key technologies, and how they are using such tools. With this information, we can better target and enact policies and programs to close the disparities in access to computers and the Internet that still are being experienced by some in our Nation.