Internet 'have-nots' targeted by digital divide initiative

The UK government has kicked off a campaign to encourage the elderly, disabled, unemployed and ethnic minorities to use the internet, in order to stop a growing digital divide in Britain.

Between now and the end of June, 6,000 UK Online access centres and 2,000 Age Concern centres will be offering free internet access to people who currently don't have any. There will also be help and free tuition available to anybody using the access centres.

Speaking at the launch of the 'Get Started' campaign Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Patricia Hewitt, citing low online access figures in her own Leicester constituency, said the scheme is vital in tackling the digital divide.

"Unless we tackle that problem now there is a real risk that the internet, instead of reducing social exclusion, will actually deepen and entrench it," she said.

Private and voluntary sector partners taking part in the campaign include Age Concern, BT, Cable & Wireless, Granada Media, HP, Intel, Microsoft, Packard Bell, The Prince's Trust and The RNID.

E-Envoy Andrew Pinder claimed the government has already achieved its target of providing internet access to those who want it ahead of the 2005 deadline but said this initiative will help the disadvantaged in society and prevent a digital divide emerging.

"The commitment to give people access by 2005 I think we have already reached in the physical sense," he said. "You have [UK Online] centres like this in every community and lots of commercially run internet access places as well."

Pinder added: "The issue is trying to persuade people the centre they have got down in their local community is a good place for them to go into and a good place to meet people as well as access the internet and not a scary place like the school they dropped out of when they were 14."

IT companies involved in the launch said cheaper IT equipment and broadband internet access in particular are essential if the campaign is to have any longer term impact.

Nick Barley, UK marketing director at Microsoft, said: "What does the IT industry have to do? It needs to create an environment where IT is ubiquitous and affordable and that also means broadband."

Graham Hopper, UK managing director at Packard Bell, echoed the view.

"Broadband is critical. To go for broadband is another £300 a year. That's a lot of money. Once you are into broadband it opens up what you can do on the internet. Broadband is key to where the digital revolution will go."