In today's knowledge-based economy, issues concerning equitable access to telecommunication services and their quality remain an important public policy focus. Wireline broadband Internet brings a significant expense of installation and maintenance, especially in less densely populated rural and remote areas. The rural, sparsely populated areas of southern Illinois are considered the broadband periphery and are underserved in terms of equitable access to high speed Internet. This study explores utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a tool to identify relevant local obstructions ("clutter") in the development of a more reliable, cost effective metrics for the deployment of wireless towers. After performing extensive quality control on tower coordinates obtained from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which were only 47% accurate, a spatial model to represent and analyze wireless broadband infrastructure and demand in the twenty-one county southern Illinois study region was developed. The key factors extracted for wireless broadband propagation are the land cover surrounding the tower, elevation and slope of the terrain, and tower height. Geographically weighted regression analysis was used to determine typical characteristics of users of wireless technology, with income, age, and education having the most significant effect. According to Census data for the year 2000, 33,910 of the 174,959 households in southern Illinois have poor or no wireless coverage. Based on the results of the study and policy recommendations, wireless broadband technologies are viable solutions to help bridge the broadband gap in southern Illinois and rural America.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 34-37). / The digital divide is largely seen as the main problem that developing economies and societies must overcome to gain economic productivity and social welfare. In this document we state that modern western perception of the digital divide lured advancement of lCT into developing countries especially in Africa. lCT must not be seen as a goal in itself but as a means to service human needs. This study attempts to analyze the willingness of people to adopt existing lCT infrastructures and the factors impeding its use in the DRC's cities of Kinshasa and Kananga.

Does a Digital Divide exist between African and European American-owned small businesses in the South? There is no inferential statistical research literature on this subject. The literature available are usually conjectures made by small business observers who are quoting results from descriptive statistical reports whose samples originate from cities and states in the North. Research indicates that Northern businesses have vastly different racial, gender, educational, and economic characteristics than Southern businesses. Therefore, it is unlikely that business technology data generated from these locations are generalizable to cities in the South. Research also suggests that a technologically urbane small business environment in a given area can economically uplift its inhabitants. Considering that southern states?particularly regions in the ?Deep South? like Alabama and Mississippi?have some of the highest poverty levels in the United States for its African American population, a detail analysis is needed to determine whether a technological chasm exists between African and European American-owned small businesses in the above states. A potential technology chasm might be the reason for the poverty that characterizes the lives of the South?s African American population. The purpose of this study was to use a Multivariate Analysis of Variance to determine if a Digital Divide existed in both the access and the use of telephone, computer, and Internet technology when comparing small businesses owned by African and European Americans in Mississippi. The primary cities under analysis were Jackson and Gulfport?the two largest urban areas in the state. The results indicated that there was not a Digital Divide between these two groups?both were technologically lacking. However, the owners of these businesses did view technology positively?a factor that might ease future technology adoption.

The purpose of this study was to ascertain if conditions or combinations of conditions existed within Oklahoma public schools that created inequities in the availability of classroom Internet connections. A stratified random sample of the 471 school districts was used to identify 300 specific schools for the purpose of data analysis. Data was gathered utilizing a database provided by the Oklahoma State Department of Education and a researcher developed questionnaire. The database provided data relating to four independent variables (region, district size, school type, and school size,). The dependent variable, percentage of classrooms connected to the Internet, was obtained by the researcher designed questionnaire. The state database also provided percentage information relating to students who qualify as minorities and qualify for free or reduced lunches. The data was tested using a series of ANOVAs and a Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient. The findings of the study are as follows: (a) The analysis of variance showed that none of the independent variables had a significant effect upon the percentage of classrooms connected to the Internet; (b) The Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient revealed little or no correlation between the percentage of disadvantaged or minority students and the percentage of classroom Internet connections.

Digital Divide in the nowadays society already are an extremely universal noun. It signified the disparity between the different communities to obtain the information equipment, thus created the variance of the ability to obtain information origin. From early telephone, computer, nowadays network and broadband to the future higher order Digital Communication Technology all might include among the information equipment. This article is studying the Digital Divide of Residential Internet Access and of the High-Speed Internet Access in Taiwan, and discusses its causing reason according to empirical analysis. Then think the correlation countermeasure to reduce the Digital Divide.

There have been a number of studies concerning the access and usage patterns of mobile phones since the first cellular phone appeared in 1979. With the appearance of the smart phone a recent field of research emerges within media and communication. This study focuses on what role a particular smart phone plays within the users’ communication practices. Combining individuality and mobility with communication, the iPhone changes the users’ way of communication completely. In addition to that, the use of the iPhone comprises self-representational characteristics. The study aims to research what role the user ascribes to the iPhone. A field observation of iPhone users combined with qualitative focus group interviews will present more insight in how the iPhone maintains the users’ interpersonal relationships and fulfils their communication motives. The field observation might bear some general aspects about usage patterns of the iPhone, especially in public spaces. Supplementing the field observation, the focus group interviews will give some information about personal usage patterns and about the iPhone’s status within individual perceptions. The use of smart phones like the iPhone influences the user’s ways of communication in positive as well as in negative ways. A constant access to various networks establishes a permanent availability, which entails major changes in the users’ way of communication and the users’ perception of time and space. In addition to that, the design and look of the gadget is a main appeal for iPhone users. Here the smart phone turns out to be an accessory with which people make statements to their surrounding. These statements can be of different nature. They can be based on image, fashion or design conscious in the user’s perception. This study intends to bring up new topics about the relationship between a technical device and its user

For foreign spouses faced with cultural differences, low autonomy, and low local language proficiency, the internet provides them with means to breaking insulation. Via the internet, foreign spouses can obtain help and increase autonomy. This research aims to discuss 4 perspectives: (1) foreign spouses¡¦ Chinese proficiency, (2) digital divide, (3) digital inequality, and (4) the processes of their digital empowerment. The research points out that many foreign spouses cannot write Chinese characters well. Neither can they understand Chinese phonetic symbols. Therefore, foreign spouses have difficulty keying in long Chinese paragraphs; they mostly read Chinese articles on the Internet. Besides, foreign spouses sacrifice their time, place, and functions of internet use because they put priority on becoming a ¡§good wife, good mother, and good daughter-in-law.¡¨ Due to that awareness, they sacrifice digital access for their family. Most important of all, the digital divide and inequality leads to digital downward spiral. Because they lack computer and internet equipment, they cannot develop the skills needed to use computer. Because digital inequality, their skills deteriorated so that they think they have no need to buy related equipment. Foreign spouses, however, know that if they can use computer and the internet, their autonomy can be increased so that they do not have to count on their husbands for everything. Besides, the importance of the internet for the foreign spouses also influences the decision whether they buy and use the internet. If they think the internet cannot benefit them in their daily life, they would not purchase the Internet.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--West Virginia University, 2005. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xii, 184 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 165-176).

Thesis (M.S.)--Florida State University, 2004. / Advisor: Dr. Elizabeth Jakubowski, Florida State University, College of Education, Dept. of Middle and Secondary Education. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Oct. 06, 2004). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2005. / "September 1, 2005"--T.p. Title taken from PDF title screen (viewed September 10, 2007). Includes bibliographical references and appendices.