Importance of Being Digital Ready – What Does that Mean?

Authors

Charlotte Narjes, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

9-12-2018

Document Type

Article

Citation

Cornhusker Economics, September 12, 2018, agecon.unl.edu/cornhuskereconomics

Comments

Copyright 2018 University of Nebraska

Abstract

Communities often determine if they are digital ready on whether or not high speed internet is available. The conversation then focuses on who has high speed internet and who does not. Hence, the divide. High speed internet is an important factor on whether or not a community can be competitive in a global market. But, it is not the only digital-ready factor necessary to compete in a global economy. One challenge of focusing on the divide is that assumptions are made that individuals do not have skills in rural areas to use technology and, that these rural residents may not need higher speed internet. These assumptions impact policy.