the digital divide: more than a technological issue

Information On-Ramp Crosses a Digital Divide

"For years, community activists and politicians around the country have talked about the need to help people who have been left behind in the digital revolution because of poverty, disabilities or fear of new technology. Without computer literacy, the argument goes, disadvantaged groups will become more excluded in the high-tech economy. Yet many efforts have meant little more than making it possible for people to surf the Web from a library terminal."
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"It [WinstonNet] will allow any resident with a library card to have an e-mail account; transact business with the city, like payment of parking tickets; and store homework or other documents on a central server so they can be easily retrieved from any site on the network."

Well intentioned project with the attempt to narrow the digital divide gap. However, as in many other similar project, the most important aspect is not addresses and thought of: Just how does the technology by itself fit within the relevant social structures and fix the underlying social problems that have resulted in the digital dive?

Don't get me wrong, technology can be a great tool, but, it must be well planned to result in positive outcomes for the desired groups. Otherwise, it might just reinforce the existing social structures without any remedy to the digital divide.