Continuing with the reasons that Americans need access to high-speed internet, we’ll look at some of the benefits to government participation–with information from Speed Matters.org .
If Barack Obama’s presidential campaign taught us anything, it’s that utilizing the internet to connect with people really works. He’s carried this into his presidency, but other branches of government have yet to catch on. Broader access to high speed Internet connections could allow citizens to participate in civic life more fully, interacting with government agencies with greater ease.
Although e-government solutions wouldn’t replace the quality of services delivered in-person by skilled government employees, especially to vulnerable populations, high speed Internet enhances public employees’ abilities to supplement these services. As federal, state and local governments increasingly rely on the Internet to provide information, forms and services for various government programs, the need for universal, affordable access grows. And with civic participation only a click away, high speed Internet can lower the barrier between citizens and their elected representatives.
Benefits include:
• Government forms can be completed online
• Web sites open 24 hours a day are faster, cheaper and consume fewer resources than hard copies delivered through regular mail.
• High speed Internet allows a wide range of government services to be completed electronically including business filings, review of Medicare prescription drug options, and real-time web public transit updates.
• The rapid download of video and data lets citizens tap countless resources on government and political issues.
• High speed Internet allows citizens to communicate with their elected officials, other candidates or like-minded individuals to organize politically, participate in online campaigns, and make their voices heard via e-mail, online petitions, social networks and video streaming.
The possibilities are endless!