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November 9, 2011 By News Report
American households with broadband Internet access increased to 68 percent in 2010 from 64 percent in 2009, according to a report from the Department of Commerce released Wednesday, Nov. 9.
However, the digital divide remains: Lower-income, rural and less educated households were less likely to have Internet access in the home.
The Department of Commerce’s Economics and Statistics Administration and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on Wednesday, Nov. 9, released "Exploring the Digital Nation," a statistical analysis of broadband adoption in the U.S.
According to the report, only 57 percent of rural households have broadband Internet access, compared to 70 percent of urban households.
Low-income residences fared even worse than rural households. Of households with annual incomes of $25,000 or lower, only 43 percent had access to broadband. By comparison, 93 percent of households with annual incomes of $100,000 or higher had access.
Numbers also differed along race and ethnicity: Asian households (81 percent) white (72 percent), Hispanic (57 percent) and black (55 percent).
“Closing the broadband adoption gap is a priority because Americans increasingly need 21st century skills to succeed in today’s economy,” said Acting Deputy Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank in the report. “Today’s report provides a comprehensive, data-driven analysis of broadband adoption that will inform efforts to close the gap and promote America’s competiveness in the global economy.”
Of respondents without Internet access in their home, 47 percent said the top reason for not having Internet access was a lack of interest or need; 24 percent cited the cost; and 15 percent cited the lack of an adequate computer.
Data from the report was gathered from an Internet use supplement to the Current Population Survey of nearly 54,300 households conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau in October 2010.
The full report can be accessed on the NTIA’s website.
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The challenge in rural America is the lack of the ability to read increases in rural America. Why would anyone have a computer if they cannot read only to be haunted by the fact they cannot read every time they log on?
I am from a rural area of this county and I take offense to the above reply. Around here everyone goes to High School and no one gets a diploma till they earn one. I think if you compare schools in the rural States to those in the big cities,the rural schools would win, when comparing the quality of education.
The only way to briedge the digital divide is to lower costs and the only way to do that affordably and sustainably is to redistribute what is already being wasted. The only way to do that globally virally adn online is KeyWifi, see: KeyWifi TED presentation http://bit.ly/jlSoQF Join KeyWifi.com to bridge the digital divide, whilst creating opportunity for yourself and everyone else in your community.