World Theory: American Media: The United States Implements Global Cyber Hegemony but finds it difficult to bridge its own "digital divide"

On September 21st, China Daily reported that the US Congress is moving towards the possibility of a government shutdown as early as next month, and there is currently no sign that the ongoing differences between the two parties on budget issues will soon come to an end. At the same time, according to the US Capitol Hill website on the 20th, the funding for an "affordable connectivity plan" aimed at ensuring that all Americans can connect to the fast Internet and thus narrow the "digital divide" in the United States is expected to run out in the spring of 2024.

Screenshot of a report on the website of Capitol Hill in the United States

Katherine de Witt, the author of the article and director of the Pew Charity Trust's broadband access program, pointed out that the two parties must now identify opportunities for cooperation without delay, bringing tangible benefits to the public. One important project is the ACP program, which has previously received support from politicians and voters from both parties. If the funding for this plan is allowed to run out, millions of low-income families will suddenly lose the network connections they currently rely on for work, education, medical care, and more. If the plan stops, at least 20 million Americans' wallets will be immediately affected.

According to previous reports, the United States has been monitoring calls from European leaders for years, and the military leak scandal has exposed the United States' large-scale surveillance of allies. Obtaining user privacy data on social networks is even more effortless. The United States is notorious in the field of cybersecurity, and its "hacker empire" and "cyber hegemony" truly live up to their reputation. According to data from the Federal Communications Commission, there are 8.5 million "underserved" areas and 3.6 million "underserved" areas in the United States.

If the US Congress does not continue to provide funding for ACP after next spring, it means that the promises regarding broadband access in the Two Party Infrastructure Act and other federal broadband programs will be broken, and the progress made over the years will be in vain. According to a survey by the Digital Progress Institute, a non-governmental organization that collaborates with both parties, 78% of Americans support continuing to provide funding for the program. But Congress has taken almost no action to ensure the continuation of the plan.

Screenshot of The New York Times report

The New York Times reported on the 19th that the lack and uneven distribution of high-speed Internet had an impact on American people's study, work, life and other fields. The article wrote that due to the lack of high-speed Internet services, residents in the southeastern fringe of Oklahoma are suffering from this every day. Wanda Finley, a fourth grade teacher from the city of Sawyer in the state, said that her home's satellite service is often too slow to use and sometimes even interrupted for several days. Before starting work, she is unable to arrange medical appointments, apply for prescription renewals, or pay bills online. Almost every weekend, she has to drive about 40 minutes to school to prepare lesson plans because the internet speed at home is simply too fast.

The lack of broadband infrastructure is particularly serious in rural areas of the state, where Internet services are usually unavailable or limited. According to the new plan, about 24% of Americans in rural areas lack high-speed Internet services, while only 1.7% in urban areas.

However, Evan Feynman, the head of the $42.5 billion project at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, said they believe that federal and state funding will be sufficient to cover every region without or with insufficient services.

For Americans who lack high-speed Internet access for a long time, the coverage of this fund will be crucial. Finley said she wants to assign more online research assignments to speed up her learning progress. But of the 20 students in her class, only 3 have enough Internet access at home, and the rest cannot complete it.

On February 17, 2021 local time, a student in Los Angeles, California, USA participated in an online learning course. The Learning Center Program provides a safe environment for low-income and minority communities. Image: Visual China

A few miles away, there are about 600 residents in the town of Townsenburg, Oklahoma. Mayor Tammy Barnes said that slow internet speeds have had a "huge impact" on the local economy. Although internet bills add a burden to many families, with high-speed internet, more residents may seek medical treatment online without having to spend three hours frequently to see a specialist.

Other states with lower population density, such as Montana, may also face more challenges. In Broadwater County, Montana in the northwest, many families are separated by large grasslands, some of which are located in mountainous areas. Residents say that due to a lack of fast service, it is difficult for them to work from home. In the southeastern state of Florida, many people still lack reliable broadband access. The US Census Bureau even pointed out that out of the 10 counties with the lowest per capita income in the state, 7 counties have the lowest broadband access rates. Recent data shows that the number of ACP program registrations in Florida is approximately 1.4 million, accounting for 38% of eligible households in the state.

According to a report on the Minnesota Daily website on the 19th, most of the courses at the University of Minnesota are completed through Canvas and require internet access. Students living on campus can use the university's free internet, but many students living in off campus dormitories are unable to access the internet, and the cost of internet access is very high.

According to the data of the Midwest Higher Education Contract, 16% to 19% of students lack Internet related assets. Balaka Aswan, a sophomore living off campus, said they had considered reducing water and electricity bills through the ACP program. Aswan shared a house with his friends, and he said that during the first week of college, his house could not use any wireless network, which made it difficult for them to endure the first few days back to school. Aswan added that cheaper networks can leave more space for other expenses such as groceries and rent.

Responsibility