Sec. 4. Findings

547 words·~2 min read·/bill/115/s/449/is/section-4

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Congress makes the following findings: Internet access has been a driver of economic activity around the world. Unbounded by national borders, it contains the potential to significantly reduce global economic inequality. Of more than 7,000,000,000 people in the world, 3,460,000,000 were using the Internet by the end of 2016. 47 percent of the world’s population is now online, with 2,500,000,000 users living in the developing world. Nevertheless, more than half of the world’s population remains offline, living without the economic and social benefits of the Internet, and developing countries remain far behind global averages in terms of connectivity, creating a global digital divide .

By the end of 2016, 83.8 percent of households in the developed world had Internet access, compared with just 41.1 percent of households in developing countries and just 11.1 percent in the world’s least developed countries. There is inequality within countries as well. Across the developing world, there are on average 23 percent fewer women online than men. Uneven connectivity and usage whether between countries or between people risks leaving those who are not online behind.

It is widely recognized that information and communication technologies will help achieve progress across the 17 goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Achieving this goal requires overcoming many barriers. Governments of developing countries often lack the resources to make this investment, and there are sometimes significant barriers to private sector investment in connectivity, particularly in rural and other remote areas. In addition to obstacles to expanding connectivity infrastructure, there are often barriers to access even where that infrastructure is in place.

In the world’s least developed countries, one month of Internet access can cost well over the average person’s annual income. The cost of devices for accessing the Internet, a lack of digital and traditional literacy, gender and other inequality, and limited locally relevant content also combine to serve as barriers to universal Internet access and usage. Even where infrastructure and devices are available, some governments are active in censoring and restricting access to certain content and services and enhancing surveillance over and repression of online conduct in contravention of internationally recognized human rights standards.

According to a 2016 Freedom House study, 67 percent the world’s Internet users live in countries where criticism of the government, military, or ruling family has been subject to censorship. While these are significant barriers, there are proven policies that countries can implement to address them. Creating a regulatory approach that promotes a competitive marketplace, taxing Internet access devices such as smartphones appropriately, promoting free expression and the free flow of data, and creating universal service funds are just some of the policies that can help bring the cost of infrastructure investment and Internet access to a more affordable level.

The United States is already a leader in promoting access to open, interoperable Internet around the world. For example, in April 2016, the Department of State launched a new diplomatic effort called Global Connect , which seeks to bring an additional 1,500,000,000 people online by 2020. United States Government support for expanded Internet access is not only in keeping with our global leadership in the effort to end extreme global poverty and enabling resilient, democratic societies, but is also vital for United States national security and economic interests.