The Broadband Divide

The recent report on household Internet connectivity by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) was quite revealing.

On the one hand, it showed how much progress has been made toward universal Internet connectivity in our homes. However, the report also shows that large gaps in home connectivity exist based on income, age and race, making it clear that we are in the midst of a broadband divide.
 

Home Internet access

More than 63 percent of all households in our country have a broadband connection to the Internet (technologies faster than dial-up). Looked at another way, about 59 percent of the population has broadband access in their home. Access is about 10 percent higher in urban areas than in rural areas. 

When factoring in non-broadband access, more than 68 percent of households and 63 percent of persons living in the households have some type of Internet access. While these percentages are less than those found in our schools, they are not only increasing, but are also an indicator that an escalating number of our students have access to the Internet at home.
 

Broadband divide

The NTIA reports shows that the broadband divide takes many shapes and forms. Here are just a few of its more interesting findings: 

• Using broadband in the home differs considerably according to race. 67.3 percent of Asian non-Hispanics and 65.7 percent of white non-Hispanics use broadband in their homes. In contrast, 45.9 percent of black non-Hispanics, 42.6 percent of Native Americans, and 39.7 percent of Hispanics use broadband in their homes.

• Income makes a difference. The percentage of persons using broadband in their homes ranges from 29.2 percent for those with family incomes less than $15,000 to 88.7 percent for those with family incomes of at least $150,000.

• There was virtually no difference in home broadband use due to gender.

• A smaller percentage of rural households (54.1 percent) have access to broadband service than urban households (65.9 percent). For rural households, lack of availability ranks third, behind "don't need/not interested" and "too expensive," for not having broadband service.

Implications for schools

Schools and educational technologists can take some comfort in the NTIA report's findings. Most importantly, because more households had broadband services in 2009 than in 2007, we can assume that an increasing number of students have this service available outside of school. While we cannot guarantee that this access will always be used for intellectually stimulating activities, we do know that for many youngsters, this increased availability will provide enhanced learning opportunities as well as a concomitant increase in technology-based skills. 

But it is the broadband divide that causes concern. Once again, educators, particularly those in economically and culturally diverse areas, may be hindered in their planning by the diversity of broadband access in their students' homes. Unfortunately, the study shows that while we are making progress, we are still a long way from being able to give an assignment that calls for all students to go home and look up something or to contact someone on the Internet.

About the author: Phil Brody worked in public education for more than 40 years, during most of which he functioned as an educational technologist. He is currently an educational technology consultant.