High-Speed Internet: Views of South Dakota Voters Ages 50+ Annotated Questionnaire

Screening Criteria: Age 50+ resident of South Dakota, registered voter in South Dakota 15 minutes 40% cell phone Base sample n=1,000 (n=600 oversample of voters residing in rural areas)

The base sample has been weighted by age, gender, income, and education based on statewide 2016 CPS statistics. The rural oversample has been weighted by age, gender, income, and education based on non- metropolitan 2016 CPS statistics.

Screener

S0. Are you currently registered to vote in South Dakota?

% % Base Rural OS (n=1,000) (n=600) 100 100 Registered 0 0 Not registered (TERMINATE) 0 0 Don’t know/ refused (TERMINATE)

Q1. Can you please tell me your current age? [AGE CODED]

% % Base Rural OS (n=1,000) (n=600) 0 0 49 or younger (TERMINATE) 16 18 50 to 54 years 23 25 55 to 59 years 20 19 60 to 64 years 14 14 65 to 69 years 10 8 70 to 74 years 6 6 75 to 79 years 11 11 80 or older 0 0 Don’t know/ refused (TERMINATE)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26419/res.00332.002

Internet Access

Today I’d like to ask you some questions about your own experiences and views of the Internet.

Q2. How often do you use the Internet? This includes using email and accessing the Internet through devices such as computers, tablets, or smartphones. [READ LIST] [ROTATE ORDER]

% % Base Rural OS (n=1,000) (n=600) 59 60 More than once a day [CODE AS INTERNET USER] 15 16 Once a day [CODE AS INTERNET USER] 10 9 A few times a week [CODE AS INTERNET USER] 3 2 A few times a month [CODE AS INTERNET USER] 2 3 A few times a year or less [CODE AS INTERNET USER] 12 11 Never [CODE AS NONUSER] 0 0 Don’t know/ refused (DO NOT READ)

Q2b. [IF INTERNET USER] Which of the following devices do you currently use to connect to the Internet (such as surfing the Internet, using email, using apps, etc.)? [READ LIST] [MULTIPLE RESPONSES ALLOWED] [RANDOMIZE]

% % Base Rural OS (n=876) (n=528) Mobile phone or smartphone (such as Android, iPhone, 67 65 Windows, or BlackBerry) 55 56 Desktop computer Laptop computer (including notebooks and netbooks such 55 54 as Chromebook) 41 41 Tablet (such as iPad, Amazon Fire, or Google Nexus) TV or Smart TV (such as watching YouTube on your TV or 31 27 streaming through services like Netflix) <1 <1 Other type of device (specify) <1 <1 Don’t know/ refused (DO NOT READ)

Q3. [IF INTERNET USER] Now, I’d like you to think about all of the places in which access to the Internet is available to you, even if you haven’t actually used the Internet at these places. In which of the following places is access to the Internet available to you? [READ LIST] [MULTIPLE RESPONSES ALLOWED]

% % Base Rural OS (n=876) (n=528) 95 95 At home 49 54 At work 57 57 At a library or school 26 24 At a community center or senior center 21 19 At a place of worship 51 50 At a coffee shop or business other than your workplace 2 1 Somewhere else (DO NOT READ) <1 0 None of the above (no access) (DO NOT READ) 0 0 Don’t know/ refused (DO NOT READ)

Q4. [IF Q3=At home] Do you currently use the Internet when you are at home?

% % Base Rural OS (n=830) (n=497) 98 98 Yes 2 2 No <1 0 Don’t know/ refused

IF INTERNET USER AND Q4=Yes, CODE AS ‘HOME INTERNET USER.’ IF INTERNET USER AND Q3≠At home OR Q4=No, CODE AS ‘NONHOME INTERNET USER.’

Q5. [IF HOME INTERNET USER] What type of Internet connections do you have at home? [READ LIST] [MULTIPLE RESPONSES ALLOWED] If you don’t know, you can just tell me that. [RANDOMIZE]

% % Base Rural OS (n=813) (n=485) Cable modem (through companies such as Midcontinent 54 48 Communications, Clarity Telecom, and Mediacom Communications) DSL connection (through companies such as CenturyLink, Golden 14 16 West Telecommunications Cooperative, and James Valley Cooperative Telephone Company) Connection via a mobile data plan (through companies such as 26 27 Verizon Communications, AT&T, and City of Brookings Telephone Fund) Fiber-optic connection (through companies such as Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative, Alliance Communications 12 14 Cooperative, and Venture Communications Cooperative or Western Telephone Company) Satellite Internet connection (through companies such as dishNET or 11 12 ViaSat) Fixed wireless (through companies such as SpeedConnect, James Valley Cooperative Telephone Company, and Santel Communications 10 11 Cooperative) (IF RESPONDENT REQUESTS EXPLANATION: “Fixed Wireless” is not the same as WIFI. If you have WIFI, that is through one of the other types of connections.) Dial-up telephone line (IF RESPONDENT REQUESTS EXPLANATION: Dial-up Internet service allows you to connect to the Internet through your regular home telephone line. By connecting one end of 6 6 the telephone line to the modem in your computer and inserting the other end of the phone line into the phone jack, and configuring the computer to dial a specific number provided by your internet service provider, you are able to access the internet on your computer.) <1 <1 Other (specify) (DO NOT READ) 6 4 Don’t know/ refused (DO NOT READ)

Q5a. [IF Q5=Other OR Don’t know] As far as you know, do you have dial-up Internet service or do you have high-speed Internet service?

% % Base Rural OS (n=55) (n=31) Dial-up (IF RESPONDENT REQUESTS EXPLANATION: Dial-up Internet service allows you to connect to the Internet through your regular home telephone line. By connecting one end of the telephone line to the modem in your computer and inserting the other end of the phone line into the phone jack, and configuring the computer to dial a specific number provided by your internet service provider, you are able to access the internet on your computer.) High-speed (IF RESPONDENT REQUESTS EXPLANATION: High- Insufficient Insufficient speed Internet service includes Cable Internet service, DSL, Fiber Optic, base base Satellite, mobile data plans, and fixed wireless. Companies that provide these high-speed services include but are not limited to: Alliance Communications Cooperative, CenturyLink, Clarity Telecom, Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative, James Valley Cooperative Telephone Company, Mediacom Communications, Midcontinent Communications, Venture Communications Cooperative, Western Telephone Company, Verizon Communications, AT&T, City of Brookings Telephone Fund, ViaSat, dishNet, SpeedConnect, and Santel Communications Cooperative.) Don’t know/ refused

Experiences with Internet Service (Internet users only)

Q5b. [IF JUST ONE TYPE OF CONNECTION AT HOME PER Q5/5A] “Thinking again about your Internet connection at home, how often do you experience problems with the Internet connection, such as trouble connecting, disconnects, slow service, or other problems? Would you say you always, often, sometimes, rarely or never experience problems?”

[IF RESPONDENT SELECTS MULTIPLE TYPES OF CONNECTIONS IN Q5/5A, ASK AND RECORD RESPONSE SEPARATELY FOR EACH TYPE OF SERVICE MENTIONED IN Q5/5A] “As I read each type of Internet connection that you have at home, I’d like you to think about how often you experience problems with the Internet connection, such as trouble connecting, disconnects, slow service, or other problems? Let’s start with [insert first type mentioned in Q5/5a; read description if needed], how often do you experience problems with your [insert first type again] Internet connection? Would you say you always, often, sometimes, rarely or never experience problems?”

1. Cable modem (through companies such as Midcontinent Communications, Clarity Telecom, and Mediacom Communications)

% % Base Rural OS (n=441) (n=238) 1 1 Always 10 9 Often 23 20 Sometimes 48 51 Rarely 17 18 Never <1 <1 Don’t know/ refused

2. DSL connection (through companies such as CenturyLink, Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative, and James Valley Cooperative Telephone Company)

% % Base Rural OS (n=110) (n=66) 6 Always 8 Often 23 Insufficient Sometimes 39 Base Rarely 21 Never 4 Don’t know/ refused

3. Connection via a mobile data plan (through companies such as Verizon Communications, AT&T, and City of Brookings Telephone Fund)

% % Base Rural OS (n=213) (n=128) 2 5 Always 9 6 Often 22 21 Sometimes 43 43 Rarely 24 25 Never <1 0 Don’t know/ refused

4. Fiber-optic connection (through companies such as Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative, Alliance Communications Cooperative, and Venture Communications Cooperative or Western Telephone Company)

% % Base Rural OS (n=99) (n=65) 0 Always 6 Often 15 Insufficient Sometimes 52 Base Rarely 27 Never <1 Don’t know/ refused

5. Satellite Internet connection (through companies such as dishNET or ViaSat)

% % Base Rural OS (n=88) (n=64) Always Often Sometimes Insufficient Insufficient Rarely Base Base Never Don’t know/ refused

6. Dial-up telephone line

% % Base Rural OS (n=44) (n=29) Always Often Sometimes Insufficient Insufficient Rarely Base Base Never Don’t know/ refused

7. Fixed wireless (through companies such as SpeedConnect, James Valley Cooperative Telephone Company, and Santel Communications Cooperative)

% % Base Rural OS (n=77) (n=50) Always Often Insufficient Sometimes Insufficient Base Rarely Base Never Don’t know/ refused

Q5c. [IF INTERNET USER] In the past 12 months, has either of the following limited your use of the Internet at home?

Don’t know/ Yes No % Base (n=876) refused % % % Q5c_1. Cost of Internet access 11 88 2 Q5c_2. Quality of Internet access 27 71 2

Don’t know/ Yes No % Rural OS (n=528) refused % % % Q5c_1. Cost of Internet access 9 89 1 Q5c_2. Quality of Internet access 25 73 2

Q5d. [IF INTERNET USER] In the past 12 months, have you ever needed help with any aspect of using the Internet (such as help with devices, applications, Internet access in general, etc.)?

% % Base Rural OS (n=876) (n=528) 37 37 Yes 62 63 No 1 <1 Don’t know/ refused

Q5e. [IF INTERNET USER AND Q5D=YES] In the past 12 months, when you needed help with using the Internet, who or where did you turn to for answers? [MULTIPLE RESPONSES ALLOWED] [DO NOT READ LIST]

% % Base Rural OS (n=346) (n=200) 12 8 Spouse 27 19 Child/ grandchild 14 12 Other family member 10 9 Friend 3 3 Neighbor 11 12 Co-worker 49 52 Service provider/ manufacturer 7 8 Online search 1 1 Other (specify) 1 1 Don’t know/ don’t remember

Q5f. [IF Q5e=AFFIRMATIVE FOR ANY ITEMS] In the past 12 months, how often was the help you needed with using Internet available when you needed it? [READ LIST]

% % Base Rural OS (n=346) (n=200) 41 44 Always 32 29 Often 21 22 Sometimes 5 4 Rarely 1 1 Never 1 <1 Don’t know/ refused (DO NOT READ)

Habits of Home Internet Users

Q7. [IF INTERNET USER] In the last 12 months, have you used the Internet to…? [READ LIST] [MULTIPLE RESPONSES ALLOWED] [RANDOMIZE]

% % Base Rural OS (n=876) (n=528) 63 62 View your bank, credit card, or other financial accounts 56 54 Pay bills 71 70 Shop online 35 38 Access your job or perform job-related tasks 69 71 Use social media like Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram 38 39 Video chat with friends or family 11 10 Video chat with a doctor, nurse, or health care provider 13 Monitor your health, such as your vital signs, and send the results to 13 a caregiver or health care provider 42 Stream TV shows or movies through a service like Netflix, Amazon 41 Prime, or Hulu 58 60 Watch YouTube videos 10 10 Monitor your home through a security or camera system 21 Monitor your fitness-related activities, such as distance walked, 21 calories burned, etc. 69 68 Read the news online 40 40 Play video or Internet games 81 81 Email family or friends 2 2 None of the above (DO NOT READ) 0 0 Don’t know/ refused (DO NOT READ)

Q8. [FOR EACH MENTIONED IN Q7] And which of those do you do at least once a week? [READ ITEMS AGAIN IF NEEDED] [MULTIPLE RESPONSES ALLOWED] [RANDOMIZE]

% % Base Rural OS (n=855) (n=516) 47 44 View your bank, credit card, or other financial accounts 31 28 Pay bills 34 32 Shop online 28 30 Access your job or perform job-related tasks 60 60 Use social media like Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram 20 22 Video chat with friends or family 2 2 Video chat with a doctor, nurse, or health care provider Monitor your health, such as your vital signs, and send the results to 5 4 a caregiver or health care provider Stream TV shows or movies through a service like Netflix, Amazon 29 28 Prime, or Hulu 39 39 Watch YouTube videos 8 7 Monitor your home through a security or camera system Monitor your fitness-related activities, such as distance walked, 14 15 calories burned, etc. 60 58 Read the news online 32 31 Play video or Internet games 65 64 Email family or friends 4 5 None of the above (DO NOT READ) <1 1 Don’t know/ refused (DO NOT READ)

Q9. [FOR EACH MENTIONED IN Q7, IF HOME INTERNET USER] And in the last 12 months, have you used your Internet at home to…? [READ LIST] [MULTIPLE RESPONSES ALLOWED] [RANDOMIZE]

% % Base Rural OS (n=802) (n=481) 61 59 View your bank, credit card, or other financial accounts 55 53 Pay bills 68 66 Shop online 28 30 Access your job or perform job-related tasks 67 68 Use social media like Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram 32 32 Video chat with friends or family 6 6 Video chat with a doctor, nurse, or health care provider Monitor your health, such as your vital signs, and send the results to 10 10 a caregiver or health care provider Stream TV shows or movies through a service like Netflix, Amazon 41 40 Prime, or Hulu 53 54 Watch YouTube videos 9 8 Monitor your home through a security or camera system Monitor your fitness-related activities, such as distance walked, 18 19 calories burned, etc. 66 65 Read the news online 37 37 Play video or Internet games 78 78 Email family or friends 1 1 None of the above (DO NOT READ) <1 <1 Don’t know/ refused (DO NOT READ)

Broadband Policy

As you may know, high-speed Internet is much faster than the older type of Internet referred to as dial-up. With high-speed Internet, people can have video calls with family; have online doctors’ appointments; take online classes; watch movies; and access information faster. High-speed internet includes internet connections that use fiber, DSL, cable, satellite, mobile data plans, or fixed wireless. High-speed internet is available in most of South Dakota but is not available in all areas of the state, especially rural and low-income areas. Some people think that high-speed internet should be available in all areas of the state. Other people think that would be too costly.

Q10. Below are different reasons why some people believe that high-speed internet should be available to everyone. For each one, please tell me whether you personally feel it’s an important reason or not an important reason to invest in developing high-speed internet across South Dakota. [ROTATE ORDER]

Q10a. Because rural communities in South Dakota need it to thrive economically

% % Base Rural OS (n=1,000) (n=600) 57 60 Very important 30 27 Somewhat important 7 6 Not too important 5 6 Not at all important 2 2 Don’t know/ refused

Q10b. Because farmers and ranchers in South Dakota need it in order to be competitive

% % Base Rural OS (n=1,000) (n=600) 58 62 Very important 28 25 Somewhat important 6 6 Not too important 5 5 Not at all important 3 2 Don’t know/ refused

Q10c. Because low-income communities across South Dakota need it in order to thrive

% % Base Rural OS (n=1,000) (n=600) 48 48 Very important 32 33 Somewhat important 10 9 Not too important 7 7 Not at all important 3 2 Don’t know/ refused

Q10d. To ensure older adults in South Dakota, especially those with health challenges, aren’t isolated from family and friends

% % Base Rural OS (n=1,000) (n=600) 61 62 Very important 28 28 Somewhat important 6 6 Not too important 4 4 Not at all important 1 1 Don’t know/ refused

Q10e. To ensure people anywhere in South Dakota can access educational resources such as online courses that would enable them to further their education

% % Base Rural OS (n=1,000) (n=600) 64 65 Very important 26 26 Somewhat important 5 4 Not too important 3 4 Not at all important 1 2 Don’t know/ refused

Q10f. Because businesses in South Dakota need it to be competitive

% % Base Rural OS (n=1,000) (n=600) 60 63 Very important 28 26 Somewhat important 5 5 Not too important 4 4 Not at all important 3 3 Don’t know/ refused

Q10g. To ensure people anywhere in South Dakota can access healthcare in a timely manner such as 24/7 online healthcare including video chats with doctors

% % Base Rural OS (n=1,000) (n=600) 62 61 Very important 25 25 Somewhat important 7 7 Not too important 5 6 Not at all important 1 2 Don’t know/ refused

Next, I’m going to read you a list of policies that may be proposed in your state and ask how much you support or oppose each one. For each, please tell me if you [ROTATE ORDER] (strongly support it, somewhat support it, somewhat oppose it or strongly oppose it).

Q11. Do you (support or oppose) state action to offer incentives to Internet providers to expand high- speed Internet service to rural areas that are not currently served? (Is that strongly or somewhat?) [ROTATE ORDER]

% % Base Rural OS (n=1,000) (n=600) 41 41 Strongly support 39 41 Somewhat support 9 9 Somewhat oppose 6 5 Strongly oppose 5 4 Don’t know/ refused

Q12. Rural electric cooperatives are operated by the people of the community. Do you (support or oppose) expanding the number of rural electric cooperatives that offer high-speed Internet service to customers in their electric service territory and surrounding communities? (Is that strongly or somewhat?) [ROTATE ORDER]

% % Base Rural OS (n=1,000) (n=600) 46 48 Strongly support 37 36 Somewhat support 5 5 Somewhat oppose 5 6 Strongly oppose 7 6 Don’t know/ refused

Q13. Do you support or oppose the development of partnerships between the state government, Internet service providers, and local nonprofits and businesses to bring affordable, high-speed Internet to more areas of South Dakota? (Is that strongly or somewhat?) [ROTATE ORDER]

% % Base Rural OS (n=1,000) (n=600) 43 45 Strongly support 32 31 Somewhat support 9 8 Somewhat oppose 9 9 Strongly oppose 7 7 Don’t know/ refused

Q14. Do you agree or disagree that elected officials in South Dakota should work to ensure that high speed internet service is available to underserved or unserved areas such as lower income or remote rural communities in South Dakota? (Is that strongly or somewhat?) [ROTATE ORDER]

% % Base Rural OS (n=1,000) (n=600) 50 53 Strongly agree 29 29 Somewhat agree 8 7 Somewhat disagree 9 9 Strongly disagree 0 0 Don’t know/ refused

Interest in Service at an Affordable Cost

Q15. [SKIP IF CURRENTLY HAVE HIGH-SPEED INTERNET] If high-speed Internet were available to you at home at an affordable cost, would you…? [READ LIST] [ROTATE]

% % Base Rural OS (n=195) (n=119) 25 27 Definitely want it 25 27 Probably want it 27 22 Probably not want it 18 20 Definitely not want it 5 4 Don’t know/ refused (DO NOT READ)

Demographics

Thank you for your time so far. I have just a few more questions to ask you for statistical purposes only.

D1. Are you currently…? [READ LIST]

% % Base Rural OS (n=1,000) (n=600) 41 46 Employed full-time 6 7 Employed part-time 2 2 Not employed but looking for work 3 2 Not employed and not looking for work 2 3 A homemaker 39 35 Retired and not working at all 7 6 Retired and working at least part-time 1 <1 Don’t know/ refused (DO NOT READ)

D2. What is the highest level of education that you completed? [READ LIST IF NECESSARY]

% % Base Rural OS (n=1,000) (n=600) 5 6 Less than a high school degree 31 31 High school graduate 16 15 Some college: but less than two years of college 19 20 Some college: two years or more/ AA degree 15 15 College graduate/ bachelor’s degree/ BA/ BS 2 1 Postgraduate courses 12 13 Graduate or professional degree 1 <1 Don’t know/ none specified (DO NOT READ)

D3. What is your current marital status – are you married, living with a partner, divorced, separated, widowed, or single and never married?

% % Base Rural OS (n=1,000) (n=600) 58 61 Married 3 2 Living with a partner 13 12 Divorced <1 <1 Separated 13 12 Widowed 13 13 Single/ never married <1 0 Don’t know/ refused

D4. Do you live in a city, a suburb, or a less developed or rural area that is not near a city?

% % Base Rural OS (n=1,000) (n=600) 57 52 City 10 6 Suburb 32 41 Less developed or rural 1 1 Don’t know/ refused

D5. Including yourself, how many people live in your household? [CODED RESPONSES]

% % Base Rural OS (n=1,000) (n=600) 30 28 1 51 53 2 9 9 3 6 5 4 4 5 5+ <1 <1 Don’t know/ refused

D6. Do you consider yourself a…? [READ LIST]

% % Base Rural OS (n=1,000) (n=600) 21 20 Strong Democrat 8 6 Weak Democrat 9 9 Weak Republican 33 36 Strong Republican 26 27 Independent <1 <1 Other (specify) (DO NOT READ) 4 4 Don’t know/ refused (DO NOT READ)

D7. For statistical purposes only, what was your total family income for 2018? Please tell me which of the following categories best represents your total family income. [READ LIST]

% % Base Rural OS (n=1,000) (n=600) 17 18 Less than $30,000 11 8 $30,000 to less than $40,000 12 11 $40,000 to less than $50,000 24 23 $50,000 to less than $75,000 15 20 $75,000 to less than $100,000 7 8 $100,000 to less than $150,000 5 3 $150,000 or more 10 10 Don’t know/ refused (DO NOT READ)

D8. Are you (if married: “or your spouse”) a member of AARP?

% % Base Rural OS (n=1,000) (n=600) 40 39 Yes 58 60 No 2 2 Don’t know/ refused

D9. For statistical purposes only, which of the following racial and ethnic groups describe you? Please tell me all that apply. [READ LIST] [MULTIPLE RESPONSES ALLOWED]

% % Base Rural OS (n=1,000) (n=600) 95 96 White or Caucasian <1 <1 Black or African American 1 <1 Latino, Hispanic, or Mexican <1 <1 Asian 1 <1 Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 3 3 American Indian or Alaska Native 0 0 Other (specify) (DO NOT READ) 2 2 Don’t know/ prefer not to answer (DO NOT READ)

D10. What is your ZIP code? (record)

Disclaimer: We are not calling on behalf of, in support of, or in opposition to any specific candidate. Our phone number is ______(phone room's phone number).

C1. Gender. [CODE GENDER BASED ON OBSERVATION]

% % Base Rural OS (n=1,000) (n=600) 48 47 Male 52 53 Female

Contact: S. Kathi Brown, AARP Research, at [email protected]. Media inquiries should be directed to Leah Ann Ganschow in the AARP South Dakota State Office at [email protected].