Wired Wisconsin: New Pew poll shows slowed progress in nationwide broadband adoption

Contact: Thad Nation

414.412.7814

MILWAUKEE — A new poll conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project shows that the growth of broadband Internet adoption slowed significantly last year. While 66% of American adults currently use broadband Internet at home, that represents a mere 3% increase from 2009 – the slowest rate of growth since the survey began a decade ago.

A majority of survey respondents also said that lack of broadband access is a disadvantage in gaining job skills and finding job opportunities (66%), getting health information (62%), learning new things that could improve their lives (62%), and using government services (56%).

“Now more than ever, access to a high-speed Internet connection is crucial for economic growth and job creation,” said Thad Nation, Executive Director of Wired Wisconsin. “The fact that broadband adoption has slowed so significantly over the past year is discouraging, and means we must continue to push for policies and legislation that will increase high-speed Internet access across Wisconsin and across the country.”

While broadband adoption slowed overall in 2010, there was a significant increase among African-Americans. Fifty-six percent of African-Americans now use broadband Internet in their homes – an increase of 10% over last year – reducing the adoption gap between blacks and whites to 11% from 19% in 2009.

Some progress in expanding broadband adoption has been made in Wisconsin, with nearly $30 million in recently approved federal and state funds going to expand broadband access to hundreds of schools and libraries across the state by the end of next year.

However, modernized telecom rules (SB 469/AB 696), which would have encouraged private companies to improve their infrastructure for newer technologies like broadband failed to pass in the Wisconsin State Legislature during the last legislative session.

“It’s imperative that the State Legislature pass modernized telecom rules as soon as possible when they reconvene next year, and continue to support initiatives that will expand access to broadband,” Nation said.

To view the complete results of the Pew poll, please visit tinyurl.com/pewbroadband.

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Wired Wisconsin is the Wisconsin-based project of Midwest Consumers for Choice and Competition (MCCC), a non-profit organization of individual consumers interested in technology, broadband, and telecommunication issues with state projects throughout the Midwest region.

The project will work to support an environment for innovative technology, high-tech job creation, and economic growth. Wired Wisconsin will seek to educate consumers, policy makers, and businesses about technology- related legislative and regulatory issues that impact our lives and advocate for common-sense approaches to spur innovation and grow the economy. For more information, visit http://www.wiredwisconsin.org.