关于跨越中国数字鸿沟的思考与对策

How China Bridges Digital Divide: Consideration and Countermeasures

数字鸿沟牵扯到整个社会的贫富差距、信息资源多寡和资金、文化、就业、生活质量等问题,涉及到国家或地区科技参与能力的强弱、经济的增长方式等更深层次的社会问题。数字鸿沟出现的原因包括国际政治经济的不平衡和不合理,一个国家内的不同阶层或不同地区间存在的经济水平之间的差异性,以及公众在传播技能、已有知识储存量、社交范围、信息的选择等社会因素方面的差异。在跨越数字鸿沟问题上,中国应该树立正确的观念,加强政策的落实,理性地消除数字鸿沟;应大力借鉴国际通行的政策,参考他国成功举措,走有中国特色的信息化之路;应积极响应和参与国际组织为缩小和消除数字鸿沟方面的工作,并为建立国际信息新秩序而努力。在跨越数字鸿沟过程中,我们应当根据中国的国情,尤其是中国的经济实力来制定相应的政策,而不能光凭热情。

Digital divide involves not only the problem regarding the gap between the rich and the poor, the amount of information resources, as well as fund, culture, employment and quality of life, but also social problem regarding the capabilities of the whole country or its different regions to partake in science and technology, and the pattern of economic increase. In the age of new economy, digital divide has become another wide gap to be close in China despite the existing Three Major Distinctions between town and country, industry and agriculture, and manual and mental labor.Imbalance and unreasonableness in the development of international economy are the root cause of the digital divide between developed and developing countries. It would be just a modern fairy tale to close or narrow the digital divide without establishing the new order of international politics and economy. The differences of economic level between various classes and various regions constitute an important cause of the digital divide of one country. Besides, the emergence of digital divide within the country involves the differences in communicative skills, storage of knowledge and social contact; the factors of selective contact, comprehension and recollection of information; and the social factors of the nature of mass medium.In order to close digital divide, China may adopt these concrete countermeasures: (1) to set up a correct concept, effectuate related policies, and close digital divide rationally; (2) to take advantage of international current policies (such as competition policy and universal service policy, which are to be formulated according to the Chinese conditions and especially China's economic strength rather than on enthusiasm only), learn from other countries' successful measures (such as improving network infrastructure, offering technical service, enhancing citizens' training, and disseminating knowledge about computer and network with the joint efforts by the Government and nongovernmental organizations) and take its own road in informationization; (3) to join international organizations actively in closing digital divide and strive for the establishment of the new system of international information. 'Okinawa Charters' about the global information society, which was approved in 2000 at the summit meeting of eight Western countries has played a certain positive role in closing the digital divide between the North and the South by adopting unified measures and policies, despite its intention of developing information technology market of developing countries. So China should make good use of the positive aspects of the charters to close the digital divide. The digital divide reflects both the low level in China's applying information and network technology and the great potentials of China's information product market. In this context, however, it has provided the State, the enterprises and the society with a good 'digital opportunity'. It deserves our attention and research how to mobilize their enthusiasm and work closely to bridge the digital divide.