Broadband Adoption
Broadband adoption is a different issue than access to broadband. Adoption rates - that is the percentage of households using broadband in areas where broadband is available - fluctuate largely based upon household income. However, once a household has elected a broadband connection the value of high-speed access to the Internet quickly becomes apparent.
Digital inclusion means ensuring that every segment of our population (regardless of income or location) can participate in the information age, since the production and consumption of information is among the strongest drivers for economic development and job growth, as well as advancements in healthcare and education.
Consider this adoption fact: In 2008, 88% of households with annual income over $100,000 were connected to broadband, while only 41% of 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,”
Improving broadband adoption rates for low-income households is crucial to improving their economic outlook. Many people are finding it impossible to move forward in today's job market without having familiarity with, and access to, online tools. That's where broadband adoption plays such a critical role.
Former Honorary Co-Chairman Michael Powell discusses the importance of broadband as a tool for ensuring that no segment of our population is left behind in the digital age.
Facts
- One third (100 million) Americans haven't adopted broadband at home.
- 88% of households with annual income over $100,000 are connected to broadband.
- Only 41% of households with annual income less than $25,000 have adopted broadband.
- Closing the broadband adoption gap will create $32 billion in annual economic value.
- Students with broadband at home have a 6 to 8% higher graduation rate than those without broadband at home.
From the Blog
Indiana School District Makes The Move From Textbooks To Laptops
Posted October 20th, 2011 by BfA Staff
The day has come when all students in grades five to twelve in Munster School District in Indiana are now told to open their laptops instead of their textbooks by their teachers. The school district completed a $1.1 million overhaul to ensure that all of its 2,600 students were able to use laptops for their math and science lessons.Read more
USF Reform Could Leave Rural Customers Out In The Cold
Posted October 20th, 2011 by BfA Staff
As the FCC gets ready to vote on what to do with the universal service fund (USF), former Senator Byron Dorgan is concerned that the FCC's proposed USF reform will leave rural customers out in the cold. "My concern is as we get closer to the end date, it appears to me that the answer to the question 'will rural areas be left behind' is going to be 'yes'."Read more
Critical Locations Lacking Internet Access
Posted October 18th, 2011 by BfA Staff
As the FCC draws closer to the October 27 vote on Chairman Julius Genachowski’s plan to overhaul the Universal Service Fund (USF), four Democratic lawmakers urged the FCC to focus broadband Internet expansion efforts to improving access in crucial locations such as schools and health clinics.Read more
Broadband Access Adding 100,000 US Jobs
Posted August 4th, 2011 by BfA StaffFCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced that over the next two years approximately 100,000 jobs will be added to the U.S. technology sector thanks to the advancements in broadband access. The jobs will help revive communities hard hit by the economic downturn. Some employees will be given the option to telework, another benefit of broadband access.Read more
Pew Report Further Evidence of Minority Broadband Adoption
Posted July 27th, 2011 by BfA StaffA recent poll by the Pew Research Center Internet & American Life Project showed that minority groups were more likely to use popular video-sharing sites, such as YouTube. Of the 71 percent of those who reported using video-sharing sites, 81 percent of respondents were Hispanic and 76 percent were African-American.Read more
