U.S. Broadband Usage Grows, But Not Fast Enough

By

There are some interesting and noteworthy conclusions from an update to last year's study of American broadband usage, entitled “last year’s report, Exploring the Digital Nation: Home Broadband Internet Adoption in the United States.” The new data, released today by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Commerce Department's Economics and Statistics Administration, are based on information from the U.S. Census Bureau’s most recent Current Population Survey (CPS) School Enrollment and Internet Use Supplement.

Some of the most interesting points:

                     As of October 2010, more than 68 percent of American households used broadband Internet, up from 64 percent one year earlier.

                     The most popular broadband technology was cable modem, with 32 percent of the broadband market, followed by DSL with 23 percent. Other broadband connectivity options such as mobile broadband, fiber optics and satellite services, accounted for a small, but growing, segment of households with broadband Internet access service, the report notes.

                     The use of dial-up Internet access has dropped from five percent of U.S. households to a mere three percent.

                     Seventy-seven percent of U.S. households have computers today.

                     Broadband use varied a great deal between racial and economic demographics, with rural households headed by an African-American adult showing the lowest use of broadband.

                     For households without broadband or any Internet connectivity, the primary reasons for the lack of access were: no interest or need (47 percent), lack of sufficient income (24 percent) and an inadequate computer (15 percent).

Officials are still troubled by the number of Americans with no broadband access (or Internet access of any kind). The fact that 100 million Americans are “cut off from the Internet at home” is a “troubling statistic in the 21st century economy,” noted NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling on a conference call with reporters today to announce the findings.

The report summary may be found here.


Tracey Schelmetic is a contributing editor for TechZone360. To read more of Tracey's articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Rich Steeves
Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. [Free eNews Subscription]

TechZone360 Contributor

SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Related Articles

Phishing bank scams in Australia: How to protect your business

By: Contributing Writer    9/28/2023

Financial phishing scams, a prevalent form of bank scams in Australia, have plagued Australians for years, leading to significant financial and emotio…

Read More

EDR: The Missing Piece in Your Security Puzzle

By: Contributing Writer    9/28/2023

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) is a cybersecurity technology that continuously monitors and responds to various threats to an organization's ne…

Read More

What Is SAST and How It Can Help DevSecOps Adoption

By: Contributing Writer    9/28/2023

With the rise of cyber-attacks and high-profile data breaches, companies are increasingly recognizing the need to integrate security into every phase …

Read More

Unmasking the Power of Brand Reputation: How it Can Make or Break Your Business

By: Contributing Writer    9/27/2023

A business's brand reputation can either make or break the business. It's a powerful concept that can influence customers, attract new clients, and in…

Read More

CI/CD Tools: A Beginner's Guide

By: Contributing Writer    9/27/2023

In the fast-paced landscape of modern software development, the tools and practices you choose can make or break the efficiency of your development pi…

Read More