NTIA: digital divides by geography, income remain

Disparities in broadband adoption based on geography and income remain, according to recent data from the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA). The research shows that, although Internet adoption gaps are closing among some demographics, stark differences in broadband adoption still exist between urban and rural locations, and rich and poor households.

While Internet adoption has increased over the last decade, the disparity between urban and rural locations has remained consistent. In 2004, 60 percent of urban locations used the Internet, while 52 percent of rural locations used it. In 2014, 75 percent of urban locations used the Internet, while 69 percent of rural location used it.

The NTIA also reiterated that there’s a digital divide by household income. Cost remains a significant barrier to broadband adoption and, even accounting for location, poor households are far less likely to use the Internet than rich households. In 2015, 84 percent of rural households that earned more than $100,000 per year used the Internet, while 54 percent of rural households that earned less than $25,000 used the Internet.

Read the full report here.

Link:

The State of the Urban/Rural Digital Divide (NTIA, Aug. 10, 2016)