BIDEN ANNOUNCES ONLINE NATION PLAN
ENSURES A 21ST CENTURY EDUCATION FOR ALL AMERICANS
Marshalltown, IA (November 5, 2007): Today at the Iowa Valley Continuing Education Conference Center in Marshalltown, Iowa, Sen. Joe Biden discussed the need to guarantee a 21st century education for all Americans and announced his Online Nation plan to provide nationwide access to high-speed internet. Although the United States led the world into the Internet age, the U.S. has now slipped to 16th in the world in high-speed Internet connections. Millions of Americans – particularly in rural and low-income urban areas – do not have access to high-speed Internet connections. In fact, less than 5 percent of towns of 10,000 or less have access to high-speed Internet connections and just 12 percent of Internet users in rural areas have them.
“There is a digital divide between communities with access to high-speed Internet connections and those without this critical technology,” said Sen. Biden. “Access to high-speed Internet connections can open a world of opportunities and even save lives through tele-medicine and instant access to electronic medical records. That’s why today I am announcing my Online Nation plan: to ensure every community, every school and college and every business has a high-speed Internet connection. As President, education and technology will be my top priority.”
