The Internet: It’s Yours If You Want It

Access to the Internet may once have been a luxury, but it is fast becoming a necessity. You need it to find news about your city and neighborhood, access information on public services, research jobs, and communicate with friends and strangers. Lack of Internet means more than not seeing the hot new video on YouTube. More and more, lack of access means that isolated or impoverished communities are further cut off from social, political, and economic participation in society.

The Digital Expansion Initiative, a program developed out of People's Production House, is working to expand access to the Internet to strengthen communication among New Yorkers whose right to communicate, we believe, is already in a precarious state.

Why do people in NYC not have Internet access? What, if any, harm does lack of Internet access cause people and communities? What would the Internet look like if it is to serve those currently without access? DEI’s mission is to promote meaningful Internet access through education and organizing—to bring community voices to the center of the discussion.

DEI is partnering with a number of community organizations to conduct audio interviews, surveys, and to generate interest in Internet policy and the right to access. We’re also launching a video research project to investigate what the Internet actually looks like. You can watch and listen to clips from our videos and audio interviews, as well as read more articles and research information on the state of the Internet in the country and in the world on our website: peoplesproductionhouse.org/digitalexpansion.

Our goal is to create an informed and engaged constituency that will push the city to create broadband infrastructure that serves their interests. If we do not act now, we may lose our best chance in at least a generation to shape how we communicate with each other – whether we do so in a way that binds us together as a society and levels the playing field of access to information technology, or that sticks some people with outdated technology while enriching a few corporations.

To find out more and to get involved please visit peoplesproductionhouse.org