ジャマイカ政府が貧困層を対象に無料インターネット接続サービスを提供する計画を発表。5億円あまりの予算を投じて、60ヶ所のインターネットセンターを設置するとのこと。島嶼地域は回線コストが割高になりがちですが、政府がデジタルデバイドの解消のためにイニシアティブを発揮する模様です。
Jamaican Government to Provide Free Internet Access in Poor Communities (Technology Review)
Jamaica's government on Tuesday announced a US$5 million (Jamaican $308 million) plan to provide free Internet access in poor communities across the island.The "e-Jamaica" initiative will establish 60 Internet centers across the country by 2010, mostly in post offices, said Commerce and Technology Minister Phillip Paulwell.
The program is directed at communities "that continue to operate on the outskirts of the communications revolution," Paulwell said.
Less than 5 percent of Jamaica's 2.6 million people use the Internet, partly because user fees are expensive compared to other countries. Broadband Internet access starts at US$93 (Jamaican $5,730) per month in Jamaica, compared to US$12 (Jamaican $740) in some Asian countries.
Eventually, people will be able to use the centers to conduct online transactions like paying traffic fines and making national insurance payments, Paulwell said.
The project, which will be funded by the government and the Inter-American Development Bank, also includes Internet training scholarships for 900 people.
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