WASHINGTON, D.C. – Some 70 percent of American adults ages 18 and older have a high-speed broadband connection at home as of May, according to a new national survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project.
The survey released last week also found that 3 percent of American adults go online at home via dial-up connections.
As found in previous research, groups with the highest rates of home broadband adoption continue to be college graduates, adults under age 50, and adults living in households earning at least $50,000 as well as whites and adults living in urban or suburban areas.
“We’ve consistently found that age, education and household income are among the strongest factors associated with home broadband adoption,” said Kathryn Zickuhr, research associate for Pew and lead author of the report. “Many dial-up users cite cost and access as the main reasons they don’t have broadband, but for adults who don’t use the Internet at all, a lack of interest is often the main issue.”
The results in this report are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from April 17 to May 19, 2013, among a sample of 2,252 adults, age 18 and older. The error attributable to the sampling is plus or minus 2.3.
Pew has been asking about home broadband since 2000, according to the firm, and has asked a version of this particular question since 2003. This has allowed researchers to see changes in how people connect during the last decade.
The firm does not measure connection speeds, they said, and relies on survey participants to provide what they know.
Those curious about speeds in a particular area can view the National Broadband Map from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). It has a lot of good information about types of connection, broadband speeds (including advertised speeds, typical speeds, and the results of speed tests), and general availability by state, county, metropolitan area, and more.
