Computer Access and Literacy for All

Adopted at the 64th Annual Meeting in 1996



  • WHEREAS, over 60 years ago, this nation set a goal of making available 'to all people of the United States-communications service with adequate facilities at reasonable charges;' and

    WHEREAS, while this goal has been largely, if not completely attained in the areas of telephone and television communications; and

    WHEREAS, increasingly, individuals and businesses are utilizing computers and the Internet as major communications vehicles; and

    WHEREAS, the Department of Labor estimates that fifty percent of American workers use computers and earn, on average, forty three percent more than those who do not; and

    WHEREAS, eighty-two percent of our 'most affluent' high school students have access to a computer at home,compared to fourteen percent of the 'less affluent;' and

    WHEREAS, according to the Census Bureau, those households earning over 75,000 a year have the highest percentage of computers in the home, while inner-city African-Americans have the lowest; and

    WHEREAS, the United States Advisory Council on the National Information Infrastructure has proposed goals of universal individual access to the information superhighway by 2005 and universal community access by the year 2000; and

    WHEREAS, the total capital cost of equipping American schools with modem computers may cost from $11.8 billion to $27.5 billion, according to the United States Department of Education, with annual operating costs of $2-5 billion,

    NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors strongly endorses the goal of computer access 'for every person; in every neighborhood;' and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that to attain this goal, The United States Conference of Mayors endorses the following measures:
  • Enactment of President Clinton's proposal for a $2 billion Technology Literacy Fund;
  • Exploration of Speaker Gingrich's proposal of a tax credit for low income individuals seeking to purchase computers;
  • a set-aside of ten percent of receipts from Federal Communication Commission auctions to support telecommunications access in the communities where new licenses are sold; and
  • a national job training initiative in the area of computer recycling to train young people, disabled individuals and others in computer maintenance skills, while increasing the amount of technology available at an affordable cost; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors shall take such measures as to bring together federal, state and local governments, the private sector and others to develop new policies, programs and partnerships to attain the goals stated above.
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