NTIA Releases new broadband assessment report
The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a new report on America's progress in achieving universal broadband access.
Conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, the report, "Digital Nation: 21st Century America's Progress Toward Universal Broadband Internet Access", found that household access to broadband jumped from 51% in 2007 to 64% in 2009.
The digital divide is narrowing between rural and urban households but still remains significant, "In 2007, 53.8 percent of households in urban areas and 38.8 percent of households in rural America were broadband users." Since 2007, urban usage has increased to 66% compared to 54% of rural households.
Broadband usage among persons with low incomes, seniors, minorities, and the unemployed remains lower than average.
Survey respondents cited price and disinterest as the two biggest factors for not having broadband Internet at home. Lack of access to high speed Internet affected more than ten percent of rural respondents.
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