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Let's face it, money is an issue for everyone in today's world. In low-income communities everything concerning money can be more than just an issue. The proverbial "keeping up with the Jone's is simply not an option for many people in these communities. In the list of technological "frills" I do not believe that broadband connectivity really classifies as a frill. Broadband not only should be available to everyone, it should be available at a lower cost if not free. You see, not only are adults missing out on higher income opportunities but our children are suffering as well.

In this day and age, teachers are giving our students more homework that they really know what to do with. I can say from experience that my child has to access the Internet on a daily basis from home to complete homework assignments. Most of these assignments are in her English class. She is expected to download and print short stories and other items. Not having Broadband puts a strain on students as they are already in a time crunch. An example of a download homework assignment is a short story by Edgar Allen Poe. This "short" story was 19 pages long. I could just imagine how long that would take for dial up.

Students who strive to do well in school do not necessarily have to be rich. Low-income students have much drive and ambition and we as a nation should not allow them to fall behind simply because they cannot afford the latest technology. While I agree that the Internet at broadband speed is an "option" for many households, I strongly believe that it is not an just an option for any household that has school age children, in fact it is a necessity. These days with wireless connectivity it is easier for students to connect to the Internet provided they have the proper installations on their computer.

School is not the only arena where broadband Internet is a necessity. There are also many jobs on the Internet that require you to have access to Broadband services. One example is Mystery Shopping. While it is not a "requirement" for many of these companies, the shoppers who have broadband are the ones who get the assignments. There are many other industries that operate only on the Internet that people in low-income communities without Broadband connectivity are missing out on. The world today is stronger, faster and much more demanding than before and EVERYONE needs to have the opportunity to keep up. So with these arguments in mind, is Broadband Internet connectivity merely a luxury or a necessity? I believe that it is a necessity for every home and every family.

Learn more about this author, Mileah K Shore.
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