“Whether most people in town have access to a computer is an open question”

[gunderstone]

Mayor Dickinson has been quoted in the Meriden Record Journal (Page 1 - Wednesday March 21st 2007) saying “Whether most people in town have access to a computer is an open question”

I suggest anyone that cares to actually review seven year old data to take a look at www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/p23-207.pdf and assess if this is actually an accurate statement any longer – perhaps saying this ten years ago maybe it well was the case but it couldn’t be argued seven years ago any longer much less today in my opinion.

(The data was compiled from 2000 and reported on in September 2001).


Some highlights:


In August 2000, 54 million households, or 51 percent, had one or more computers, up from 42 percent in December 1998

Since 1984, the first year in which the Census Bureau collected data on computer ownership and use, the country has experienced more than a fivefold increase in the proportion of households with computers.

Forty-four million households, or 42 percent, had at least one member who used the Internet at home in 2000. This proportion was up from 26 percent in 1998, and more than double the proportion of households with Internet access in 1997 (18 percent), the first year in which the Census Bureau collected data on Internet use.

About 94 million people use the Internet at home (In 2000)



Feel free to look over the entire seven year old report and all the accompanying data and decide for yourself

[gunderstone]

Updates found to Computer and Internet Use in the United States: 2003

I knew that as soon as I wrote this and the editorial that was published this morning with seven year old information that I would find more, up to date information.

:(

Computer Use and Ownership can be found on the Census website via

http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/computer.html

The most recent information is available via the links below as well.


CPS October 2003

Report - Computer and Internet Use in the United States: 2003 (p23-208) (711k)
http://www.census.gov/prod/2005pubs/p23-208.pdf


Detailed Tables - Computer and Internet Use in the United States: October 2003
http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/computer/2003.html


Source and Accuracy
http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/computer/CompUse2003S&A.pdf

[melto]

I believe the original quote was in response to the idea of open access to records online. The mayor doesn't want to expend the resources to put information at our fingertips, and claims it would not benefit enough people to make it worthwhile. He also touts that fact that meetings can be viewed on public access cable.

I wonder if he has wandered around town lately? In my neighborhood, probably half the houses have satellite dishes on their roof - the cost of Dishnetwork or DirectTV being lower than the cost of Cable. So, he is touting something that only benefits that small portion of the public with access to cable television. I would argue that the percentage of citizens with access to the cable channels is lower than those with access to computers, even simply using your census numbers, which indicate the number of households with access.

Even if people don't have internet access at home, it is available free to use at the public library - while the cable access channel is not!

Further, there would be other benefits to putting the information online - and cutting of costs as well. When I want information from my deed or other public records, what I want is information - it does not follow that I need printed copies of those records. If I can view the records online, I can get the information I need and use it in whatever way necessary. This preserves resources - no paper wasted on printing. If I want a copy of a deed, it costs me the time to visit town hall (during work hours, no less, which is not convenient for those who work - the very people paying the taxes), plus the time of a clerk to copy it for me. If it were available online, I would not have to skip lunch, not use up the clerk's time. Yes, there is an initial cost (both time & money) to make everything accessible, but there is then a reduction in the day-to-day costs.

Another benefit would be to the students in our schools. Civics classes learn all about government - wouldn't it be good for them to have access to the various documents governing how our town works? Shouldn't they be able to get a copy of the Town Charter without having their teacher find time to photocopy it for them - she or he should be able to direct them to an online copy, which they can then compare to other charters both for other Connecticut towns, and in fact towns all over the country.

The Mayor gives the impression that he doesn't want to put information at our fingertips for a variety of reasons:

People would misuse the information (as if making it a bit easier to access would make any differerence, if they want the information they can get it by going to town hall).

It wouldn't benefit enough people (and he's implying that he's looking out for those without access to the internet). The reality is that most people without internet access can still go to the library, which is open longer hours than Town Hall. Those are generally the same people who can least afford to take time off from work to visti Town Hall when it is open.