Senator Markey Introduces Legislation to Help Expand Internet Access and Increase Digital Literacy in Developing Countries

Press Release

Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the Africa and Global Health Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced legislation to help expand quality and open access to the internet in the developing world. More than half of the world's population remains offline, and developing countries remain far behind global averages in terms of connectivity. By the end of 2015, more than 80 percent of households in the developed world had internet access, compared with just 34 percent of households in developing countries and just seven percent of households in the world's least developed countries.

Senator Markey's "Driving Innovation and Growth in Internet Technology And Launching Universal Access to the Global Economy (DIGITAL AGE) Act" (S.3206) calls for a comprehensive "whole-of-government" strategy from the U.S. government, expands U.S. government support for private sector investors, strengthens the State Department's Global Connect Initiative, and affirms expanding internet access as a programmatic focus for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

"American ingenuity created the internet and American investment should help bring its power to the world's poorest and most vulnerable countries," said Senator Markey. "Bridging the global digital divide can help promote prosperity, democracy, educational opportunity and better health. The DIGITAL AGE Act is a passport to the 21st century digital economy, linking the people of the developing world to most successful communications and commerce tool in the world's history. I look forward to working with my colleagues to bring the tremendous potential of the internet to the nations of the world who need it most."

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