REMARKS OF BLOSSOM A. PERETZ, ESQ.
DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF THE RATEPAYER ADVOCATE
BEFORE THE LIBERTY SCHOOL
Englewood, New Jersey
February 27, 2001 10:00 a.m.
Good morning and a special hello to my fellow guests here this morning, Scott Radin from Congressman Steven Rothman’s office, Lisa Logan from the office of Senator Byron Baer, Assemblywoman Loretta Weinberg, and most importantly United Water New Jersey President Robert Iacullo and his staff. Thank you, Dr. Baynes, for inviting me to share this extraordinary day at the Liberty School.
Thanks to a generous grant from United Water and an Access-Collaboration-Equity (ACE) grant from the State of New Jersey, the Liberty School is opening the ACE Computer Lab. I am so pleased that the Division of the Ratepayer Advocate had the privilege of helping to make this project a reality.
We all heard President Bush last night say that education of the children of our nation is his top priority. I agree. The risk of a digital divide, a nation of information haves and have-nots, is an unfortunate possibility in our country. Children with computers and Internet access at home have an advantage over those whose families cannot afford to provide these tools. A report released earlier this month by the Pew Internet and American Life Project noted that 82 percent of families earning more than $75,000, but only 38 percent of families earning less than $30,000, have Internet access at home.
Since the ACE Computer Lab is community-oriented, I think it’s also important to keep in mind the role age plays in the digital divide. Almost three quarters of children between the ages of 12 and 18, and almost a third of children under 12, have Internet access, compared with only 15 percent of Americans 65 and over.
Unless we act together, there are segments of our society that will be spectators, rather than participants, in the information revolution. The ACE Computer Lab is a vibrant example of how companies such as United Water can work with the public sector to close that digital divide.
I am so pleased that students and local residents will have access to this terrific resource. Perhaps, Dr. Baynes, your students will use this lab not only to improve their own computer skills, but also to teach their parents, grandparents and other members of the community.
As the Ratepayer Advocate of the State of New Jersey, I offer my congratulations to you, Dr. Baynes, and my thanks to Mr. Iacullo and United Water New Jersey. I look forward to hearing about the many success stories that will come out of the ACE Computer Lab.