[1st-mile-nm] US Home Broadband 2010 Report from Pew Internet and Amercian Life Project

[Richard Lowenberg]

From: Lee Rainie
Date: Wed, Aug 11, 2010
Subject: New Pew Internet Report and Stats - State of Broadband 2010

I thought you’d be interested in the new report we are just releasing  
about
the state of broadband adoption among Americans: http://pewrsr.ch/brdbnd10

We highlight a couple of things:

·        Broadband adoption has slowed dramatically in the overall
population, but growth among African-Americans was especially high last
year.

·        By a 53%-41% margin, Americans say they do not believe that the
spread of affordable broadband should be a major government priority.
Contrary to what some might suspect, non-internet users are less  
likely than
current users to say the government should place a high priority on the
spread of high-speed connections.

In addition to their skepticism towards government efforts to promote
widespread broadband adoption, the 21% of American adults who do not  
use the
Internet are not tied in any obvious way to online life and express  
little
interest in going online.

·        They do not find online content relevant to their lives. Half
(48%) of non-users cite issues relating to the relevance of online  
content
as the main reason they do not go online.

·        They are largely not interested in going online. Just one in  
ten
non-users say would like to start using the internet in the future.

·        They are not comfortable using computers or the internet on  
their
own. Six in ten non-users would need assistance getting online. Just  
one in
five know enough about computers and technology to start using the  
internet
on their own.

The new Pew Internet Project survey found that Americans have mixed  
views
about the problems non-broadband users face due to their lack of a
high-speed internet connection. There is no major issue on which a  
majority
of Americans think that lack of broadband access is a major  
disadvantage,
although African-Americans, Latinos and young adults are more keenly  
attuned
than average to the impact of a lack of broadband access.

·        Job opportunities and career skills: 43% of Americans believe  
that
lack of broadband is a “major disadvantage” when it comes to finding out
about job opportunities or gaining new career skills. Some 23% think  
lack of
access is a “minor disadvantage” and 28% think it is “not a  
disadvantage.”

·        Health information: 34% of Americans believe that lack of  
broadband
is a “major disadvantage” when it comes to getting health information.  
Some
28% think lack of access is a “minor disadvantage” and 35% think it is  
“not
a disadvantage.”

·        Learning new things to improve and enrich life: 31% of  
Americans
believe that lack of broadband is a “major disadvantage” when it comes  
to
learning new things that might enrich or improve their lives. Some 31%  
think
lack of access is a “minor disadvantage” and 32% think it is “not a
disadvantage.”

·        Government services: 29% of Americans believe that lack of
broadband is a “major disadvantage” when it comes to using government
services. Some 27% think lack of access is a “minor disadvantage” and  
37%
think it is “not a disadvantage.”

·        Keeping up with news and information: 23% of Americans  
believe that
lack of broadband is a “major disadvantage” when it comes to keeping  
up with
news and information. Some 27% think lack of access is a “minor
disadvantage” and 47% think it is “not a disadvantage.”

·        Keeping up with what is happening in their communities: 19% of
Americans believe that lack of broadband is a “major disadvantage”  
when it
comes to finding out about their local community. Some 32% think lack of
access is a “minor disadvantage” and 45% think it is “not a  
disadvantage.”

Best,
Lee


Director
Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project
1615 L Street, NW -- Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
W - 202-419-4510
email: Lrainie at pewinternet.org
Twitter: @Lrainie


------------------------------------------------------------
Richard Lowenberg
P. O. Box 8001,  Santa Fe, NM  87504
505-989-9110 off.; 505-603-5200 cell
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