A January 2010 study by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies found that while 47 percent Hispanic respondents had broadband at home, only 21 percent of Spanish speaking Hispanics had the service.

Adoption by African-Americans showed no significant growth and the gap between African- Americans and whites widened in both 2008 and 2009.

Pew found that from 2005 to 2007, broadband adoption by African-American households nearly tripled, and the gap between whites and English-speaking Hispanics nearly closed.

In 2000, the Pew Foundation reported that 36 percent of African-American households and 44 percent of English-speaking Hispanic households were connected to the Internet, compared to 50 percent of whites.

According to the Pew Center and other sources, in 2009, 68 percent of white households had broadband service, compared to 46 percent of African-American households and 48 percent of Hispanic households.

While access to broadband Internet by minority and lower-income American households has progressed steadily, significant gaps in adoption linked to race and income remain.

Users with household incomes below the poverty guidelines had higher odds of using library computers to do homework.

Overall, 44 percent of people in households living below the federal poverty line ($22,000 a year for a family of four) used public library computers and Internet access. Among young adults (14–24 years of age) in households below the federal poverty line, 61 percent used public library computers and Internet for educational purposes.  Among seniors (65 and older) living in poverty, 54 percent used public library computers for health or wellness needs.

According to the FCC, about one-third of the population, 93 million people, have elected not to connect to broadband.

According to the Census Bureau, broadband adoption is at 64% of households, up from 51% in 2007.