Watch as BFA Honorary Co-Chair Michael Powell discusses digital inclusion at the Joint Minority Caucus Summit.

About Broadband Adoption

Adoption of broadband is a different issue than availability of broadband. Adoption rates - that is the percentage of households using broadband in areas where broadband is available - fluctuate largely based upon household income. According to one study:

“The likelihood of adopting home broadband increases with income. In 2008, 88 percent of high-income households (with annual household income exceeding $100,000) were connected to broadband, while only 41 percent of low-income households (with annual income less than $25,000) had adopted it.”
(Mark Dutz, Jonathan Orszag and Robert Willig, “The Substantial Consumer Benefits Of Broadband Connectivity For U.S. Households,” internetinnovation.org, 7/09, page 27)

However, once a household has elected a broadband connection the value of high-speed internet quickly becomes apparent.

“Of those online households that are connected to home broadband, do lower middle-income households or African-American households, for instance, put as much value on broadband as upper middle-income, white households? In fact, the answer to this question turns out to be affirmative.” (ibid page 29)

Indeed the value of broadband is maintained in spite of economic hardship: “people are unwilling to cut broadband usage even when they lose their job – to the contrary, broadband use appears to become much more valuable during such times.” (ibid page 14)

Broadband is quickly becoming an important tool for families across America. BfA's mission includes availability of - and adoption of - broadband access for every household in the nation. And many households are choosing mobile internet ñ improving lives by being there for you wherever and whenever.

From schoolchildren being able to access on-line tutors, dictionaries, and encyclopedias, to parents being able to look up symptoms of possible illnesses of family members, to looking for a job broadband becomes a basic tool in their lives.

The Broadband for America coalition has members representing all segments of American society so more Americans can appreciate its value.