Nearly two-thirds of U.S. households use broadband

08.11.2010
by U.S. households has grown steadily over the past two years, as nearly two-thirds of all households reported using broadband services in 2009.

According to a new survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 64% of U.S. households said they used broadband at home, up from 51% of U.S. households in 2007 and just 9% of U.S. households in 2001. The report surveyed more than 54,000 U.S. households and defined broadband as any DSL, cable modem, fiber optics, satellite, Wi-Fi or mobile broadband connection.

All demographics have made major gains in adopting broadband since 2001, the survey shows. Nearly half of U.S. blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans now report using broadband in their homes, compared to 68% of white non-Hispanic household and 77% of Asian households. In 2001, U.S. blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans all had home broadband adoption rates of less than 10%.

The largest gaps in broadband adoption were in terms of family income and education level. Just 36% of households making less than $25,000 a year reported having broadband at home, vs. 61% of households with incomes between $25,000 and $50,000. Meanwhile, only 29% of households that had less than a high school degree reported using broadband at home, vs. 51% of households with a high schools degree alone and 85% of households with college graduates.

In terms of age demographics, Americans aged 65 or older have seen a strong increase of broadband adoption, as roughly 40% of households with people 65 years or older now report using broadband at home. All other age demographics have a broadband adoption rate of at least 68%, the survey shows.