Broadband for America Webchat with “Digital Nation” Producers Rachel Dretzin and Raney Aronson

WASHINGTON –In case you missed our web chat today with PBS Frontline’s “Digital Nation” producers Rachel Dretzin and Raney Aronson, we’ve compiled a few highlights. Rachel and Raney are two of the brains behind PBS’s fascinating Frontline special, “Digital Nation,” which aired last night.

Some Highlights:

Rachel Dretzin on how broadband is changing rural and lower-income areas: “Access to information technology is a great equalizer, and that's one of the real positives of the digital age. For people in rural settings who can't always attend an excellent school or university, online learning can be an amazing resource.”

Raney Aronson on convincing people to adopt broadband: “I found the studies in this area intriguing and they make sense. It's not as simple as just putting technology in urban areas, or in poorer areas -- it's a matter of helping and navigating this technology with the people/young people using it.”

Rachel Dretzin on whether Internet access can also have negative impacts on education: “Aha. Yes, I hear about this quite a bit from professors, who complain that kids often use the language they use online in their papers. But studies have shown that kids who text frequently actually have stronger writing skills. I'd have to dig that study out, but I have a clear recollection of reading it.”

Rachel Dretzin on how broadband can especially help minority students: “We need to be integrating technology education into schools. And many public libraries have really excellent resources and online education for people without access. Many of the students at the Bronx school we profiled are minorities, and I would say they have benefited enormously.” 

Broadband for America (BfA) is a growing coalition of over 150 members ranging from independent consumer advocacy groups, to content and application providers, to the companies which build and maintain the Internet. The complete BfA membership list is available at: http://www.broadbandforamerica.com/about/members