Hitachi California Public Affairs Forum: Bridging the Digital Divide.

Business Editors/Technology Writers

STANFORD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 9, 2000

Industry and Academic Experts Address the Gap Between the

Technological "Haves" and "Have Nots" and Provide Policy Guidance to

Narrow the Divide

Today, top industry, government and academic experts addressed the causes and consequences of the gap between the technological "haves" and "have nots" at the Hitachi California Public Affairs Forum: Bridging the Digital Divide.

Hitachi partnered with the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST), the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR) and the Stanford Program in Law, Science and Technology to bring together key experts to address the issues that surround the digital divide debate.

Topics discussed included providing computers to elementary schools, universal service and equal access. The forum also provided specific policy guidance to span the technology chasm in American society.

"The digital divide will affect us all as technological change accelerates and our workforce population evolves," said Masahiro Maeda, corporate officer, Hitachi Ltd. "With new technological applications and patents filed daily and existing technology constantly evolving, the issues of universal service, equal access and education are critical."

Expert panelists agreed that technology innovators, government regulators, communications providers and skilled teachers have responsibilities to bridge the divide and forums like this are critical to developing solutions.

Policy recommendations developed from today's forum will be included in CCST's Critical Path Analysis of California's Educational System scheduled for completion in May 2001.

At Gov. Gray Davis' request, the Critical Path Analysis will provide data on the trends in science and engineering education at the high school and higher education levels and investigate the demand for skilled labor in the science and technology sectors.

This project will give policy makers insight into factors that influence the state's education system and the need to produce a skilled science and engineering workforce.

"This digital divide policy forum is part of CCST's ongoing initiative in education," said Paul Jennings, CCST council chair.

Last year, CCST produced the California Report on the Environment for Science and Technology (CREST). CREST provides the first comprehensive assessment of the present status and long-term trends affecting California's science and technology infrastructure.

"One of the most significant results from the CREST report was the stark contrast in California between the ability to innovate and create new industries and the inability to produce the quantity and quality of the workforce required," said Jennings.

"In addition to using the results of this forum in our Critical Path Analysis, CCST will also prepare a summary of this forum and submit it to the state Legislature and Office of the Governor to assist in policy planning."

Roy Pea, director of the Center for Technology in Learning at SRI International and consulting professor in the School of Education at Stanford University, led the education discussion about the effective use of computers in schools.

Issues discussed were faculty understanding of computer software and hardware, outdated software teaching solutions or "hardware dumping" and related hardships that resulted when outdated equipment was donated to a school. The group also examined the lack of public funding for school purchases of modern software.

Robert Crandall, a senior economist at the Brookings Institution, discussed the Telecommunications Act that defines universal service and ensures access to telecommunication networks by subsidizing rates. At the heart of this debate is whether the standards should be applied to Internet access and if such service is essential for a person to be an effective participant in society.

Lawrence Lessig, professor of law at Stanford University, examined the dichotomy of equal access.

The issue revolves around two competing philosophies: the economies-of-scale argument that concentrated services will enhance telecommunications and Internet services to low-income people; and the anti-monopoly argument that concentration will limit competition among cable, telephone, wireless and satellite industries and result in limited and more costly services to low-income people.

Education, universal service and equal access were also discussed during a Town Hall Meeting, moderated by Kathleen M. Sullivan, dean of Stanford Law School.

Other featured guests included: Andy Andreoli, director of Indian Education, State Department of Education; Ruben Barrales, president and chief executive officer, Joint Venture Silicon Valley; Bart Decrem, co-founder, Eazel; Sandra R. Hernandez, CEO, the San Francisco Foundation; Marcia Linn, professor of cognition and development, University of California, Berkeley; Johnetta MacCalla, CEO, ASCI Inc.; and Tom West, director, CENIC.

This year marks Hitachi's 90-year anniversary. For almost a century, Hitachi's corporate philosophy has been to contribute to society through the development of new technologies and products and to fulfill its responsibilities as a good corporate citizen.

The Hitachi California Public Affairs Forum began in 1987 as a platform for finding solutions to problems that California, and the nation, face.

For more information, log on to www.ccst.ucr.edu/cpa/bdd/bddhome.html.