VP Harris announces plans to help give 80% of Africa access to the internet by 2030

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: ABC News/AP

May 24, 2024, 6:25 AM


WASHINGTON -- Vice President Kamala Harris is announcing the formation of a new partnership to help provide internet access to 80% of Africa by 2030, up from roughly 40% now. Friday's announcement comes as follow-through on Harris' visit to the continent last year in conjunction with this week's visit to Washington by Kenyan President William Ruto.

Harris and the Kenyan leader were scheduled to have a fireside chat on Friday at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce about how public-private partnerships can increase economic growth. A preview of Harris' initiatives obtained by The Associated Press outlines how she wants to follow through on the commitments she made to promote digital innovation when she visited Ghana, Tanzania and Zambia. Africa has struggled to receive the capital needed to build up its industrial and technological sectors.

The United Nations reported last year that foreign direct investment in the continent fell to $45 billion in 2022, from a record high $80 billion in 2021. Africa accounted for only 3.5% of foreign direct investment worldwide, even though it makes up roughly 18% of the global population.

Besides launching the nonprofit Partnership for Digital Access in Africa to improve internet access, Harris, a Democrat, is announcing a new initiative geared toward giving 100 million African people and businesses in the agricultural sector access to the digital economy.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/harris-announces-plans-give-80-africa-access-internet-110529458

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Link to White House FACT SHEET - FACT SHEET: Vice President Harris Announces Public and Private Sector Commitments to Advancing Digital Inclusion in Africa

[I_UndergroundPanther]

1. That is good news for Africa

But here in America the program that helped poor people access the internet has been cut.

[Omnipresent]

2. Nothing stops that Nigerian prince from asking for help with his financial dilemma.

[jimfields33]

3. Yep. Fix America's internet availability and affordability

[maxsolomon]

5. America First!

Sorry, couldn't resist.

You can once again thank Repukes for that:

Why Is the ACP Expiring?
The problem is funding. Like with any federal funding, there’s a limit to how long a program can go on without being renewed by Congress. The Biden administration has made several pleas to lawmakers to save the program, including one last October requesting a $6 billion investment to continue the program, among other domestic spending. Despite that and a number of pleas from advocacy groups and organizations like the Federal Communications Commission, nothing came of these attempts, and the program has officially lapsed.

https://www.wired.com/story/affordable-connectivity-program-ending/

[LT Barclay]

4. Good and bad in this.

Probably good for some economic growth and for education but could lead to homogenization of culture, more exploitation of natural resources including endangered species, and might hurt small businesses.
Could also lead to more surveillance by authoritarian governments.