2009-06-16-皮尤-Home_Broadband_Adoption_2009_50页_2mb

Home Broadband Adoption 2009 Summary

Core Content

The Pew Internet & American Life Project's April 2009 survey reveals that home broadband adoption in the United States has increased, despite the ongoing economic recession. As of April 2009, 63% of adult Americans had broadband internet connections at home, up from 55% in May 2008. This growth is particularly notable among subgroups with historically lower adoption rates.

Main Points

Broadband Adoption Growth

• Senior citizens (ages 65+) experienced the most significant increase, with broadband adoption rising from 19% to 30%.
• Low-income Americans saw strong growth:
  • Those with income $20,000 or less increased from 25% to 35%.
  • Those with income $20,000–$30,000 increased from 42% to 53%.
• High school graduates saw an increase from 40% to 52%.
• Older baby boomers (ages 50–64) increased from 50% to 61%.
• Rural Americans increased from 38% to 46%.
• Overall growth for those in homes with income below $30,000 was 34%.

Broadband and Internet Users

• 79% of adults identified as internet users in April 2009.
• 72% of adults said they go online from home, meaning 87% of these users access the internet via broadband.

Economic Recession Impact

• Broadband adoption was largely immune to the recession.
• 9% of internet users reported cutting back or cancelling internet service in the past year.
• 22% of adults cut back or cancelled cable TV service, and 22% of cell phone users did the same.
• 85% of adults had cell phone service, up from 77% in late 2007, indicating that people were economizing on communication services other than broadband.

Price Trends

• The average monthly broadband bill increased to $39 in April 2009 from $34.50 in May 2008.
• Users with more than one provider paid $38.30, while those with only one provider paid $44.70.
• Premium service users (those paying for faster speeds) paid $44.60 per month, up from $38.10 in 2008.
• Basic service users paid $37.10 per month in 2009, up from $32.80 in 2008.

Importance of Broadband

• 68% of broadband users consider it "very important" for community engagement.
• 65% see it as "very important" for communication with healthcare providers.
• 62% view it as "very important" for economic growth in the community.
• 58% believe it is "very important" for sharing views on key issues.
• Overall, 55% of broadband users consider it "very important" in at least one of these areas, and 84% see it as "somewhat important" or "very important" in at least one of the five realms.

Key Information

Non-Users and Barriers

• 7% of adults used dial-up, down from 14% two years ago.
• 21% of adults were non-internet users.
• Common reasons for not having broadband:
  • Relevance: 50% of dial-up and non-internet users cited this (13% of all adults).
  • Price: 19% of dial-up and non-internet users (5% of all adults).
  • Availability: 17% (4% of all adults).
  • Usability: 13% (3% of all adults).

Methodology

• The 2009 survey included cell phone interviews, which may have increased the broadband adoption rate by 2 percentage points.
• The survey included 2,253 adults, with 561 interviewed on cell phones.
• The margin of error for the entire sample was ±2 percentage points, and for home broadband users ±3 percentage points.

Connection Types

• In 2009, 33% used DSL, 41% used cable, 17% used fixed wireless or satellite, 5% used fiber, 1% used T-1, and 2% used other types.
• In 2008, the percentages were 46% DSL, 39% cable, 11% fixed wireless or satellite, 3% fiber, and 1% other.
• In 2007, 49% DSL, 39% cable, 8% fixed wireless or satellite, and 1% fiber.

Rural vs. Non-Rural

• Non-rural broadband users were more likely to use DSL (31%) and cable (43%).
• Rural broadband users were more likely to use DSL (49%) and fixed wireless or satellite (19%).

Provider Availability

• 69% of home broadband users had more than one provider in their area.
• 21% had only one provider.
• 10% were uncertain about provider availability.

Conclusion

The 2009 survey indicates a steady increase in broadband adoption, especially among low-income, older, and rural populations. Despite the economic downturn, broadband usage did not decline significantly, suggesting that it has become a more essential service. Prices increased, but users with more provider choices paid less. Premium services became more common, with 34% of users paying extra for faster speeds. The importance of broadband is widely recognized, especially in terms of community engagement, healthcare access, and economic participation. The inclusion of cell phone users in the survey sample appears to have enhanced the representativeness of the data, especially for younger, minority, and low-income groups.