Adam D. Thierer

The digital divide—the gap between those who have access to information technologies and those who do not—does not exist, Adam D. Thierer claims in the following viewpoint. He maintains that government proposals to make personal computers (PCs) and Internet access more affordable are unnecessary because PCs have become as inexpensive as televisions and free Internet access is readily available. In addition, Thierer contends that efforts by telecommunication companies and major private-sector employers have helped ensure that all Americans can participate in the information revolution. Thierer is the director of telecommunication studies at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. How much did the cost of a new personal computer system fall between 1996 and 1999?
2. According to Helen Chaney, Internet access has...