Most people do not associate telecenters with the United States. That’s because they are called public libraries there. The Economist reports that more people are coming to the American telecenters because critical government and other services are increasingly available only through the web and because some people have dropped home connections in the hard times of the Great Recession.
The best way for America to ease the new strain on its libraries is by closing the digital divide; companies and state agencies are unlikely ever to give up the efficiencies they won by moving online. Around $7 billion of 2009’s stimulus went to expand broadband access. But encouraging competition among America’s expensive broadband providers, and hence lower prices for consumers, might do this more cheaply than subsidies.
So the sustainable solution is market provision under competitive conditions, not more subsidies to telecenters. We have been saying this for some time.
2 Comments
Magerata
WhiteSpace + Google or municipality wireless :) [even with very strict emission rules that prevent the direct use of IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi)].
Harsha
In Sri Lanka it’s a different problem.
1. Politicalization of Telecentre (Nenasala) establishement
2. Lack of effective strategies and plans
3. Negligence and Poor Management by ICTA
Social protection reform in Sri Lanka discussed at Advocata ReformNow Conference
The fragmented social protection system in Sri Lanka has been in need of reform for many years. There is a need to reform many areas, including targeting and the delivery of benefits — areas we have, and continue to, stress the importance of.
Improving social protection in Sri Lanka: LIRNEasia research on TV
I was invited to speak on Social Safety Nets in Sri Lanka on ‘The People’s Platform’ a 45 minute live TV programme on NewsFirst. I drew on LIRNEasia’s research on the area to highlight problems in targeting the poor and the possibility of using bank accounts and mobile technology to deliver benefits to the poor.
Social Safety Nets: Reform in Sri Lanka (Presentation)
Slides presented at the Advocata Institute’s #ReformNow conference on 5 August 2022
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