Experience

In order to correctly facilitate the full benefits of the Digital Single Market for all of Europe’s citizens it is essential to address both issues related to access, those areas where broadband access is limited or non-existent, as well as the aggravated skills gap that keeps many away from the advantages of online services.  For many, accessing the internet is prohibitively expensive, for it requires both the initial investment in hardware as well as some form of subscription fee. Making such an investment requires the informed knowledge of the direct gains associated with technology, and yet many still need greater exposure to the online services that will greatly impact their lives in order to begin investing in technology and internet access. The benefits of promoting online activity have resounding economic advantages as well. Recently, the World bank discerned that a 10 per cent increase in technology adoption i.e. mobile phone, internet and broadband usage respectively can result in up to a 0.73 - 1.38 per cent increase in gross domestic product (GDP.)[1]

As many countries excel in their efforts to include large portions of their populations, others continue to struggle. Currently, 50 per cent of Romanians are offline while 38 per cent of Portuguese, 35 per cent of Poles, 40 per cent of Greeks, or 46 per cent of Bulgarians do not benefit from online services including e-government services, paid for through their taxes.

Ideas

Through a massive effort to provide greater numbers of Romanians access to the many benefits of online activity, public libraries have establish both public and private partnerships with astounding results. After an initial 26.9 million dollar investment by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to assist 2,283 public libraries in providing public access computing and Wi-Fi services, libraries were able to introduce over 600,000 Romanians to the benefits of internet use. A massive training program ensued, through which over 3,500 librarians were prepared to assist library users with their basic computer needs, including simple job searches or resume formatting, assistance with online banking, or accessing their farm subsidies. In partnership with the Government farm subsidies agency, APIA, public libraries served over 116,000 farmers assisting them to access 170 million Euros in subsidies while saving them over one million euros in transportation costs and 230,000 working days. 

Europe must be prepared to more than just recognize the need for expanded public access computers connected to the internet, and begin strategically investing in existing structures like public libraries, Tele-centres, community centres, etc. that provide both value added, for the structures and staff currently exist, as well as ease of use, as these institutions are well recognized and respected within their communities and maintain high levels of public regard and trust.

[1] Impact of the Internet - http://impactoftheinternet.com/smes.html Economic Growth