Digital Divide
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The full report, additional charts, and links to the original Census data and survey instrument are available on NTIA’s web site at www.ntia.doc.gov, or from NTIA’s Office of Public Affairs, (202) 482-7002. See also the Department of Commerce main web site, www.doc.gov for other reports on information technology and electronic commerce. FALLING THROUGH THE NET: DEFINING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE A Report on the Telecommunications and Information Technology Gap in America July 1999 TMENT OF CO T OF C AR MM EN O EP E M M . D RC T M .S E R E U N A R N A P C T O I I E E O T D A N R A T L S I T N E I U L E M N A C D I C O A T I M N E R M O U TI D E N A S M ICA RM T A TIONS & INFO ATES O F National Telecommunications and Information Administration • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE FALLING THROUGH THE NET: Defining the Digital Divide FALLING THROUGH THE NET: DEFINING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE National Telecommunications and Information Administration Larry Irving, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Policy Analysis and Development Kelly Klegar Levy, Acting Associate Administrator PROJECT TEAM Office of Policy Analysis and Development Office of the Assistant Secretary James McConnaughey, Wendy Lader, Senior Economist Senior Policy Advisor Douglas W.Everette Taylor Reynolds PROJECT CONTRIBUTORS Office of Policy Analysis and Development Collin Hathaway Alexander I. Eule Sandra Laousis Christyann Ferraro Bryan J. Corey Maricela Alvarez Office of the Assistant Secretary Roanne Robinson, Karen Edwards Onyeije, Chief of Staff Senior Policy Advisor James V. Wasilewski, Mary F.Hanley, Acting Director, Congressional Affairs Director, Public Affairs Office of Chief Counsel Kathy Smith, Milton Brown, Acting Chief Counsel Attorney Advisor Office of Telecommunications and Information Applications Bernadette McGuire-Rivera, Associate Administrator Telecommunications Information Infrastructure Assistance Program Stephen Downs, Francine Jefferson, Director Telecommunications Policy Analyst U.S. Bureau of the Census Demographic Surveys Division Population Division Ronald R.Tucker Jennifer Day Greg Weyland Eric C. Newburger Tim J. Marshall Robert A. Kominski Aileen Bennett L. Dinah Flores U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE • National Telecommunications and Information Administration v FALLING THROUGH THE NET: Defining the Digital Divide TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION . .xii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. xiii METHODOLOGY . xv PART I. HOUSEHOLD ACCESS . .1 A. Introduction . .2 B. Telephone Penetration . .2 1. Stable Telephone Penetration . .2 2. Disparities in Telephone Penetration . .2 3. Closing Penetration Gaps . .4 C. Access to Electronic Services . .5 1. Expanding Access to Electronic Services . .5 2. Disparities in Access to Electronic Services . .5 3. Expanding Digital Divide . .8 D. Conclusion . .9 E. Charts I-1 through I-29;Tables I-1 through I-4 . .10-32 PART II. INTERNET ACCESS AND USAGE . .33 A. Introduction . .33 B. Where People Access the Internet . .34 1. General Access to the Internet . .34 2. Points of Access Outside the Home . .35 C. How Households Access the Internet . .38 1. Type of Internet Access Device . .38 2. Type of Internet Service Provider . .38 3. Why Households with Computers Have Never Had Internet Access . .38 4. Why Households with Computers Have Discontinued Internet Use . .39 D. How People Use the Internet . .40 1. Internet Use At Home . .40 2. Internet Use Outside the Home . 40 3. E-mail Uses . .41 4. Online Confidentiality Concerns . .41 E. Conclusion . .42 F. Charts II-1 through II-59 . .43-75 PART III. CHALLENGES AHEAD . .77 APPENDIX. TRENDLINE STUDY (1984-1998) . .81 A. Introduction . .81 B. Telephone Penetration . .81 1. Highlights . .81 2. Profiles of the Most and Least Connected . .82 3. Variables in Telephone Penetration . .82 C. Computer Ownership . .82 1. Highlights . .82 2. Profiles of the Most and Least Connected . .83 3. Variables in Computer Penetration . .84 vi U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE • National Telecommunications and Information Administration FALLING THROUGH THE NET: Defining the Digital Divide D. Internet Access . .85 1. Modems . .85 a. Highlights . .85 b. Profiles of the Most and Least Connected . .85 2. E-mail Use . .87 a. Highlights . .87 b. Profiles of the Most and Least Connected . .87 E. Conclusion . .88 F. Charts A-1 through A-25 . .89-105 GLOSSARY . .106 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE • National Telecommunications and Information Administration vii FALLING THROUGH THE NET: Defining the Digital Divide INDEX OF CHARTS PART I Percent of U.S. Households with a Telephone, Computer, and Internet Use Chart I-1 Percent of U.S. Households with a Telephone, Computer, and Internet Use . .10 Percent of U.S. Households with a Telephone Chart I-2 By Rural, Urban, and Central City Areas . .10 Chart I-3 By Income and Rural, Urban, and Central City Areas . .11 Chart I-4 By Race/Origin and Rural, Urban, and Central City Areas . .12 Chart I-6 By Income and Race/Origin . .13 Chart I-7 By Education and Rural, Urban, and Central City Areas . .13 Chart I-8 By Household Type and Rural, Urban, and Central City Areas . .14 Chart I-9 By Age and Rural, Urban, and Central City Areas . .14 Chart I-10 By Region and Rural, Urban, and Central City Areas . .15 U.S. Household Telephone Penetration Gap Chart I-5 By Race/Origin . ..