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Equal Access: Bridging the Digital Divide
Equal Access is a visionary public/private partnership formed to bring information access to the least developed regions of the world via state-of-the-art digital audio and multimedia technology. "Our mission is to use digital satellite broadcasting and information technology to build global learning networks and sustainable communities," explains Ronni Goldfarb, Executive Director of The initiative brings together WorldSpace Corporation, a provider of global digital satellite broadcasting, Solaria Corporation, a solar systems company, and State of the World Forum, a not-for-profit global leadership, education, networking and community-building organization.
The goal of access is to provide culturally appropriate, readily usable development information to poor communities by using this new technology to broadcast directly to small, inexpensive receivers via satellite. "Information affluence is the sine-qua-non to development. Without it, our attempt to alleviate poverty and create a sustainable, compassionate, civilization cannot succeed," says Noah Samara, founder and CEO of WorldSpace Corporation. "Through Equal Access, people in Africa, Asia and Latin America will now be able to receive audio and multimedia programs directly using affordable, handheld equipment."
Program content will consist of a wide range of essential information, such as health education (including HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention); distance education (schools and adult education); women's and family services; micro enterprise training; locally produced news and public affairs; and emergency relief services. Programming will be evaluated for effectiveness and interest.
Programs will be broadcast via the WorldSpace satellite delivery system, which provides for instant and ubiquitous broadcast of digital information to 80 percent of the world's population. Currently WorldSpace has launched a satellite over Africa and Asia, and next year will launch its third satellite over Latin America. These regions comprise 133 countries, with a population of 4.6 billion.
Equal Access is partnering with international and regional organizations to provide content and on the ground support. One such partnership is with the United Nations Development Programme in their initiative for Human Development and HIV/AIDS prevention in Asia Pacific. "We are piloting 1,000 sites in Asia to provide education and promote more effective national and community responses to the devastating HIV/AIDS pandemic", says Ben Brown, UNDP senior program advisor on HIV/AIDS, Asia Pacific. Equal Access provides the vehicle for us to reach millions of people that we otherwise couldn't reach." Another example is a partnership with Free the Children (FTC), an international organization that works to free children from abuses of slave labor and improve their quality of life. This initiative will provide a communications infrastructure powering receivers and computers for over 200 schools and clinics in India, Kenya, Tanzania and Nicaragua. As all of the FTC sites are remote and without access to electricity, Solaria will supply solar generated power for the receivers, computers and clinics. "This is the most comprehensive development program in the history of these areas", says FTC founder Craig Kielberger. "We hope to be able to empower and educate the youth using the Equal Access service."
In conjunction with these partnerships and other initiatives, Equal Access is working to develop community sites in over 2,000 locations throughout Africa and Asia addressing HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, micro-enterprise, computer training, and comprehensive distance education initiatives. "Equal Access will provide a voice for communities in the critical issues concerning their own development, as they will have direct input into the content of the messages", says Goldfarb. "Equal Access: was founded not only to bring information and education to all corners of the earth, but most importantly to engender a world in dialogue, in which all voices will be heard and respected."
Kimberly Weichel is a team member of Equal Access, an International Project Manager and Radio Producer. You can reach her at kweichel@igc.org Formore information about Equal Access, visit our website at www.eqaccess.org or contact us by email at info@eqaccess.org. For more information on the WorldSpace satellite system, contact the WorldSpace website at www.worldspace.com .
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