Access Isn’t Enough

By Brad

As today’s Washington Post reports, though lack of access and a perceived difficulty in use are barriers to broadband adoption, price also plays a major role.

Even if high-speed Internet service was available to the entire nation, about one-third of Americans not currently using broadband still wouldn’t because of the expense, according to a report released yesterday by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

The report was based on two surveys of 4,254 people last year and illustrates a potential hang-up in President Obama’s goal to bring broadband Internet to rural and other underserved areas: If they build it, it’s not clear that people will come.

The story goes on to note that although an estimated 91% of American homes currently have access to broadband services, only 57% of the country uses those services.