DIGITAL DIVIDE
Casting a Wider Net in Brazil (Wired)
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DIGITAL DIVIDE
CASTING A WIDER NET IN BRAZIL
Issue: Digital Divide
Brazil will invest $400 million this year to provide Internet access to poor
and rural areas, and with the help of non-governmental organizations,
increase the use of the Internet, according to Brazilian Planning Minister
Martus Tavares. Studies show that of the 160 million Brazilians, about 1.1
million now have Internet access. Brazil is planning to provide
Internet-connected computers primarily in post offices throughout cities
with populations over 600,000, and is also strategizing ways to close the
digital divide through its Digital Inclusion Project. One idea to make
Internet more affordable to Brazilians, who are charged 3 cents (US) for
every 4 minutes online, is to create a free Internet service provider that
covers all of Brazil including the rain forests and the countryside. "The
idea is to reduce the exclusion of 160 million Brazilians who are outside of
the fastest growing sector in the world," Tavares said.
[SOURCE: Wired, AUTHOR: Paulo Reb