WASHINGTON (Capitol NewsWire)—At this embryonic stage of the Internet’s development, no one disputes figures showing minorities trailing whites in computer ownership, cyberaccess and Internet know-how.

But the impact of "the digital divide’’ is a matter of dispute between some Internet experts and civil rights advocates.

Some, like B. Keith Fulton of the National Urban League, see the gap as a sign that minorities might find themselves relegated to second-class citizenship in cyberspace due to a lack of computer aptitude.

"We are talking about the new information age and heart of a new economy,’’ said Mr. Fulton, director of technical programs and policy for the civil rights group. "The ramifications are enormous in terms of jobs and where minorities will be in the new millennium.’’

But E. David Ellington, a founder and president of one of the Internet’s most popular Black-directed sites, believes it’s too early to fret over the paucity of Blacks and Hispanics on the Internet.

"I’m tired of how I see this issue being positioned in the media, of Black folks being perceived as in need and not having the wherewithal to deal with the computer age,’’ said Mr. Ellington, founder of a San Francisco company that runs the popular NetNoir web site.

"We are less than five years into the Internet age. Look at how minorities have embraced pager or telephone or cable technology,’’ Mr. Ellington said. "Black folks will embrace the technology of the Internet as soon as it becomes more relevant to our lives.’’ Government data illustrates the gap.

A Commerce Department report showed that whites are more than twice as likely to own home computers as Blacks or Hispanics, and the racial disparity exists even among families earning more than $75,000.

Across all incomes, about 41 percent of white families own PCs, but about 19 percent of Black and Hispanic families do.

The report, called "Falling through the Net II,’’ said about 76 percent of white families with incomes over $75,000 own home computers, compared with 64 percent of Black families at the same income level.

A third report is scheduled for release in June. Most believe that owning a computer is just part of the fight to get minorities online.

"The biggest problem in the underserved community is not necessarily the hardware,’’ said David Eisner, vice president for corporate relations for America Online, the world’s largest Internet access and online service provider. "We can put all the hardware in the world into a community, but until it’s valued, it won’t do well. The content has to be what people want.’’

As an example, Mr. Eisner said the web site of the Benton Foundation, a nonprofit group devoted to public policy, children’s issues, community activism and philanthropy, has useful information that could win a wide audience but isn’t easily accessible.

Also on the AOL docket are plans to help colleges with large minority enrollments develop programs for students in mathematics, science and engineering, Mr. Eisner said.

The Urban League’s Fulton said the key to getting more minorities on the world wide web is to tie greater Internet use to real life matters such as better-paying jobs or higher test scores for children.

"There are huge demands for workers with technical skills. Critical thinking skills are enhanced when children work with computers,’’ Mr. Fulton said.

The league became the first civil rights organization to broadcast a program live on the Internet with its Urban Technology Summit last year.