"Connection at Ewiiaapaayp Mountain" & "New Voices on the Net?"
In “Connection at Ewiiaapaayp Mountain,” Christian Sandvig explores the story behind the implementation of the Tribal Digital Village, an Internet distribution network that provides service to Native American tribes in Southern California.
At the end of the article, Sandvig points out that the success of TDV is, ironically, an indication of the struggles that had to be overcome along the way. The remarkable outcome was a result of adaptations to the inequalities and disadvantages that Native Americans face. Rather than viewing TDV as the poster child for the implementation of Internet in all tribes, Sandvig explains that we should view it as a testament to potential of dedicated individuals and opportunistic moments. Moreover, we can benefit by viewing it as an exposé of the obstacles that arise when certain institutions try to “help” a disadvantaged population.
The first obstacle that the TDV story illustrates is the distinction between equitability and equality. In many situations in which “help” is being offered, the helping party assumes that an effective solution is to provide the receiving party with what they literally lack. However, the TDV story shows us that this not the case; simply providing Internet access cannot uplift an impoverished group. There must also be additional support systems in place, especially ones that offer a culturally competent approach and assess the specific needs of the population.
The second obstacle that arises is the “moral burden” placed on the receiving party. It is easy to think of those we are “helping” as a different breed of people, and to forget that they are indeed our fellow human beings. Rather than idealizing Native Americans as thirsty for uplift and aspiring to the highest levels of self fulfillment, we ought to hold them to the same standards that we hold ourselves. The unrealistic hope that the Native Americans would use the Internet solely for self-betterment and progress placed on them an unnecessary burden. Furthermore, the presumption that Internet would be used for cultural preservation was in itself a display of cultural incompetency. In order to actually empower these individuals, we need to let go of our own expectations for them and listen to their actual desires and aspirations. Without honest communication, the moral burden will continue to hinder any sort of progress that was initially hoped for.
In “New Voices On the Net,” Ernest J. Wilson III and Sasha Costanza-Chock discuss recent trends in representation of people of color in major communication platforms in America. As Sandvig does in “Connection at Ewiiaapaayp Mountain,” they also touch on the theme of equal versus equitable treatment in the context of access inequality.
Despite the rapidly increasing “minority majority” in America, minorities are still drastically underrepresented in all forms of media. The goal of the American mediascape mirroring the American landscape cannot be achieved if ICT investors continue to define underrepresentation solely in technical terms. Although lack of broadband access is an integral part of the equation, it is more importantly a reflection of the much deeper social inequalities that permeate our society. This relationship is evidenced by data that demonstrate that broadband access is stratified by both education and income level. Moreover, Wilson and Costanza-Chock explain how people’s approach to and usage of the Internet is largely dependent on their socioeconomic status, a phenomenon known as the “participation gap.” Bridging the digital divide requires examining all of these factors, and providing intervention on multiple levels, not just the technical level. An equitable approach recognizes that the problem of access for minorities cannot be solved by applying the same solutions that work for the majority.
In “Connection at Ewiiaapaayp Mountain,” Christian Sandvig explores the story behind the implementation of the Tribal Digital Village, an Internet distribution network that provides service to Native American tribes in Southern California.
At the end of the article, Sandvig points out that the success of TDV is, ironically, an indication of the struggles that had to be overcome along the way. The remarkable outcome was a result of adaptations to the inequalities and disadvantages that Native Americans face. Rather than viewing TDV as the poster child for the implementation of Internet in all tribes, Sandvig explains that we should view it as a testament to potential of dedicated individuals and opportunistic moments. Moreover, we can benefit by viewing it as an exposé of the obstacles that arise when certain institutions try to “help” a disadvantaged population.
The first obstacle that the TDV story illustrates is the distinction between equitability and equality. In many situations in which “help” is being offered, the helping party assumes that an effective solution is to provide the receiving party with what they literally lack. However, the TDV story shows us that this not the case; simply providing Internet access cannot uplift an impoverished group. There must also be additional support systems in place, especially ones that offer a culturally competent approach and assess the specific needs of the population.
The second obstacle that arises is the “moral burden” placed on the receiving party. It is easy to think of those we are “helping” as a different breed of people, and to forget that they are indeed our fellow human beings. Rather than idealizing Native Americans as thirsty for uplift and aspiring to the highest levels of self fulfillment, we ought to hold them to the same standards that we hold ourselves. The unrealistic hope that the Native Americans would use the Internet solely for self-betterment and progress placed on them an unnecessary burden. Furthermore, the presumption that Internet would be used for cultural preservation was in itself a display of cultural incompetency. In order to actually empower these individuals, we need to let go of our own expectations for them and listen to their actual desires and aspirations. Without honest communication, the moral burden will continue to hinder any sort of progress that was initially hoped for.
In “New Voices On the Net,” Ernest J. Wilson III and Sasha Costanza-Chock discuss recent trends in representation of people of color in major communication platforms in America. As Sandvig does in “Connection at Ewiiaapaayp Mountain,” they also touch on the theme of equal versus equitable treatment in the context of access inequality.
Despite the rapidly increasing “minority majority” in America, minorities are still drastically underrepresented in all forms of media. The goal of the American mediascape mirroring the American landscape cannot be achieved if ICT investors continue to define underrepresentation solely in technical terms. Although lack of broadband access is an integral part of the equation, it is more importantly a reflection of the much deeper social inequalities that permeate our society. This relationship is evidenced by data that demonstrate that broadband access is stratified by both education and income level. Moreover, Wilson and Costanza-Chock explain how people’s approach to and usage of the Internet is largely dependent on their socioeconomic status, a phenomenon known as the “participation gap.” Bridging the digital divide requires examining all of these factors, and providing intervention on multiple levels, not just the technical level. An equitable approach recognizes that the problem of access for minorities cannot be solved by applying the same solutions that work for the majority.