Seeking to close a "digital divide" between rich and poor students, Vice-president Al Gore has announced a new initiative to bring Internet access to inner-city and rural schools
The plan would connect every school in the nation's 50 largest school districts and 185 schools run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs by this time next year, the Associated Press reported. It also calls for the Commerce Department to analyze Internet-usage trends to determine whether there are racial disparities.
At a April 28 White House ceremony, Gore praised union workers who worked to set up Internet connections in 700 of the nation's poorest schools.
"We can let technology be a negative force that furthers divisions or we can use it to connect all Americans together and give them the same shot at success," Gore said. In 1994, the administration promised to connect every U.S. classroom and library to the Internet by 2000.
Posted May 5, 1998.