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The State of the Internet 2000
Following are excerpts from a September 2000 report released by the U.S. Internet Council, self-described as a "nonpartisan, educational resource for state and federal policy makers." The council's goal is to provide reliable information and analysis on Internet policy issues. It is led by members of the U.S. Congress, state legislators from across the United States, and representatives from an array of information technology companies such as America Online, Apple Computers, Cisco Systems, Dell Computer, and Hewlett Packard. The report is available in its entirety at: http://www.usic.org/.Social Trends The Internet is changing lives. The Internet has made more information more accessible to more people. It is fundamentally changing the way we communicate and live. E-mail is quickly outpacing traditional postal service. According to Messaging Online, electronic mailboxes grew 83 percent in 1999, amounting to over 569 million. Online retailing is changing the way people shop and opening individuals to a global marketplace. Also, communities formed in cyberspace among individuals with mutual interests who are geographically distant are reshaping social and political debates on issues as diverse as banning landmines to controlling U.S. gun violence. These virtual communities are super-empowered by the net. They have the ability to reach farther and faster than ever before and can even mobilize their members through the efficiencies of the Web. The World Trade Organization (WTO) bore witness to this full power to mobilize individuals during the November 1999 meeting in Seattle and few have underestimated the influence of virtual communities since. As the Internet moves toward wireless access, the Web will increasingly become an integral part of our daily lives. Soon the Web will be available anywhere and anytime. The Internet is also changing the way we learn and creating new opportunities in education. Computers in schools and access to the Internet are improving the educational possibilities for millions of students. Moreover, classroom connectivity in the U.S. has increased dramatically over the last decade, giving more children the chance to receive the advantages of learning online. Distance learning on the Web is also offering opportunities to adults to continue learning with greater convenience. However, the digital divide remains and lower income households without access to the Web may feel more disconnected than ever .... Virtual Communities Virtual communities, which just a few years ago were little more than chat rooms, have expanded into all-encompassing portal sites. Today's virtual communities allow users to read the latest news, conduct online banking and other financial transactions, participate in chat rooms, send and receive email, play online games, listen to music, shop, and receive career-building assistance, to name the more common applications. Larger portals such as Yahoo!, eGroups, and About.com cater to the general public, while other sites focus on a common link to attract Internet users. Throughout 1999, a large number of these specialized portals were launched, covering all areas of life from child-rearing to auto repair. The purpose of these sites is to share information on topics of interest to the users. Here are a few examples:
PlanetGov (www.planetgov.com): PlanetGov, launched in May 2000, is the first and only vertically targeted Web portal created specifically for government and military employees. The creators of PlanetGov surveyed government employees and built the site according to survey responses. The AFL-CIO Online Community (www.workingfamilies.com): WorkingFamilies is a portal for union members and their families. In addition to providing many of the applications mentioned above, WorkingFamilies provides news on issues affecting unions and ways to become a politically active member of the AFL-CIO. Another trend in the virtual communities arena is the use of Web sites, e-mail, and chat rooms to raise awareness and support for grassroots organizations and their initiatives. Small local organizations have received national and, in some cases, international attention through their Web sites. The Internet has quickly proven to be vital to such movements as:
The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (www.icbl.org): An organization dedicated to raising awareness of the dangers of landmines, it uses its Web site to document national compliance with the 1997 International Landmine Ban Treaty. The Internet has allowed ICBL to reach a much wider audience, increasing public awareness and support since the organization began building its Web site. The Million Mom March Foundation (www.millionmommarch.com): Initially a small California-based gun-control organization, this organization gained national attention and support for its Million Mom March on Washington, D.C., on Mother's Day 2000. Membership has swelled since the march, and organizers give much of the credit to their Web site and e-mail campaign for the large turnout and continued support of the organization. Conservative HQ (www.conservativehq.com): A new venture led by Richard Viguerie, this site is a portal dedicated to becoming an international cyber-community of American conservative principles. The site offers chat rooms, e-mail, bulletin boards, and up-to-date political news and information of interest to conservative-minded individuals.
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