Sen Markey floats bill bringing Internet to developing world

Sen Ed Markey (D-MA) is pushing to increase Internet access in the developing world with new legislation. The Driving Innovation and Growth in Internet Technology And Launching Universal Access to the Global Economy Act (DIGITAL AGE) would provide the State Department a “Special Representative for the Global Connect Initiative,” a face for the Global Connect Initiative it announced in April.

While 80% of the developed world has access to the Internet, less than 40% of the developing world has that access. The Global Connect Initiative aims to shepherd an additional 1,500,000,000 people online by 2020. The special representative would be an ambassador for the program to other nations, private business and US agencies. The president would appoint the special representative with approval from Congress. The bill would fund the position, three staff members and an additional $200,000 to be spent on the broader initiative. DIGITAL AGE further appropriates $5 million to the Overseas Private Investment Corporation in furtherance of getting the developing world online and $1million to USAID to create “digital literacy” programs. It also directs the president to create a more comprehensive plan in bringing the internet to the developing world.