Over the past few years access to the Internet has become a basic service for most Americans.
This basic service has become particularly important for a group of Americans who in many circumstances are short on resources or live in semi-isolation because of either an illness or the reduced mobility that results from aging.
I am obviously talking about our senior citizens.
Senior citizens have become very dependent on the Internet for simple tasks like communicating with family and friends via e-mail or chats, or reading the news and staying informed about what is happening around them.
However senior citizens are also learning more and more to use the Internet in more complex ways such as searching for information, particularly medical information.
The Internet is also becoming a critical tool that allows them to access information on government programs that directly affect the elderly, and to register to participate in federal plans such as the infamous Medicare part D(isaster) program.
It seems to me that senior citizens have a lot at stake in the fight for Internet Freedom and is one of the populations that have the most to loose if the big telecoms get their way.
The only reason I bring this up is because, as most of you know, the AARP has a very big clout and it would certainly be to our advantage to have them on our side in the fight for Internet Freedom.
I am not aware that the AARP has stated a position on this issue but I believe that it would be important to hear from them regarding where they stand and to explore whether they are looking at this in the same way we are.
How can we get them involved?