Domestic Digital Divide Initiative
Development of Online Content and Services for Low-Income Communities
Date Initiated: June 2001

In an effort to improve public understanding of the way in which information technology can meet the needs of low-income and low-literacy people, and to develop content and services to meet them, Markle began its Domestic Digital Divide Initiative in June 2001.

This project stemmed from Markle's understanding of the growing gap between low income families and society's increasing use of technology. While access to the Internet and computers across all segments of U. S. society was growing significantly, access to technology was proving to be be inadequate and distributed unevenly.. Markle's initiative is designed to help ensure that this technology is useful and relevant to low-income populations by having content and services delivered to meet these users' needs.

This initiative was rooted in two central goals. The first aim of this project worked to identify areas for research and experimentation needed to encourage the development of such content and services. The second part of the project focused on Markle parternering with individual organizations to pursue their ideas to develop content and services. Initial partnerships included The Children's Partnership, The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, and the Educational Netcasting.