Many Americans Refusing High-Speed Internet, Study Shows
There are few things in life you just don't turn down; a second chance at redemption, a Nobel Peace Prize, and, of course, an available high-speed Internet connection. A shocking number of Americans, though, are in fact turning their backs on the Internet, and Congress, rest assured, is concerned.Following last week's news that Finland had guaranteed universal broadband access to all of its citizens by 2010, the befuddled U.S. Congress ordered the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to get to the bottom of the matter and draft a plan for wider broadband diffusion by February. Although statistics are, on the surface, reassuring (A full 96-percent of American households either subscribe to broadband or have the capability to access it.), one sphinx of a stat lurks in the reeds.
An FCC task force found that 33-percent of the American households equipped to access the Web via broadband have elected not to subscribe, a phenomena leaving the FCC scratching its head. The New York Times reports that lower income levels may act as a barrier to access for many, and that age could contribute, as well. According to a Pew Internet and American Life Project survey, only 30-percent of subjects aged 65 or older subscribe to broadband connections, versus (a still low) 77-percent of 18- to 29-year-old Americans. The FCC's forthcoming study, though, may reveal that there is a portion of the population that, regardless of age, simply refuses high-speed Internet access.
We'll wait until the study is released in February before we start entertaining any nightmares of anti-technology revolution. But if the report does, in fact, show that the problem is at the level of individual behavior, and not exogenous factors like money or age, then the story becomes murkier. We hope, though, that Congress would be able to craft some sort of social initiative or outreach program to overcome whatever roadblocks -- whether economic, cultural, or otherwise -- that stand between the unconnected and broadband bliss. We realize, though, that we're not Finland, that we have a lot of housecleaning to do in some other rooms, and that the $350 billion we'd need to "Finlandize" wouldn't sit too well with voters or the Congressional Budget Office. For now, at least, we're just glad to see that the Government is doing something concrete, and, hopefully, beneficial. [From: The New York TImes]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
John Thacker said 5:13PM on 10-19-2009
"We hope, though, that Congress would be able to craft some sort of social initiative or outreach program to overcome whatever roadblocks -- whether economic, cultural, or otherwise -- that stand between the unconnected and broadband bliss."
Why? It's one thing if people can't afford it or it isn't available, but if people just plain don't want it, then why the re-education program? It would be like Congress having a special program to make sure that everyone gets cable TV or watches the NFL.
You're falling victim to the temptation of assuming that everyone else is or should be just like you, and is *wrong* if they want to be different.
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Soni said 1:25AM on 10-20-2009
Broadband brings in millions of bucks per month.. baslic cable in my area is 112 bucks .. for basic tv , telephone, and broadband.. and they wonder why old people don't want it.. and don't have cell phones either..which are triple the cost of regular phones..
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elle said 6:56PM on 10-19-2009
Technology can't fix stupid.
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oddeith said 7:40PM on 10-19-2009
If the federal govermnent is concerned if we don't choose to have high speed access it means one thing. There is a kick-back some where for some self serveing politician.
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Sho said 7:53PM on 10-19-2009
Why is so much of our government filled with stupid people with no common sense?
Here, let me save us a hundred million dollars:
Most people do not have high speed connection because the price is ridiculously high. Hey, why not do the same study on digital cable, HD/Plasma/LCD televisions, satellite television, blu-ray players/recorders, massive cellphone plans, i-phones, kindles, high-end gaming laptops, and tons of other luxuries (Yes, LUXURIES) that most people would rather do without or use perfectly satisfactory, cheaper or low-tech alternatives than frivilously waste the money? That way you can waste the money that the rest of us "coupon users", low gas consumers, at-home meal cookers and recyclers try saving every day.
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Sho said 7:55PM on 10-19-2009
Sorry, "frivolously". I was typing agitated.
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n2magic said 7:59PM on 10-19-2009
If it comes down to individual behavior, shouldn't the people be allowed to decide whether they want the internet or not? Maybe some don't want the temptation of the more lurid sites on the interwebs. Maybe some, especially our elders, don't see the need for it and would rather not subscribe. People should be free to make choices that you wouldn't make.
And, to the author, this sentence is unbelievable: "For now, at least, we're just glad to see that the Government is doing something concrete, and, hopefully, beneficial." It's a study. It's not binding on anything. This is the mushiest of all government action and can, in no way, be considered "concrete." And, it's difficult to see how this study could be "beneficial" since it is bound to be an utter waste of taxpayer dollars.
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tinkeralch said 10:44PM on 10-19-2009
Gotta get to the bottom of the matter... Maybe they should look at cost?
Der der der....
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ycav4424 said 11:30PM on 10-19-2009
Congress has kept so many things from Americans for so long that they can't understand why everybody doesn't jump on any little thing they offer. These are the same people that think everybody makes 50 thousand a year. If they are offering something to us, we better be carefull. It is probably just a way of them to have better control in the future. Lets hire some that can be trusted if that is possible with all of the lobbiest that each one has. I think Lou Dobbs said that each one of our representatives has 8 lobbiest, and they all have influence.$$$ In the end, corporate leaders will give us what they think we need or should have, do, hear and speak about.
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Anthony said 11:48PM on 10-19-2009
Maybe the cable companies could lower the price of BASE SPEED broadband (I'm talking 512 Kbps) to something competitive with dial-up companies. Speed boost over dial-up + prices nearly equivalent to dial-up services like NetZero - corporate bullshit = consumer interest! Basic economics! And stop letting the broadband companies control their networks like nazis!
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Ramujyan said 2:47AM on 10-20-2009
Yay! Peeple R sm4rt!
Funny enough, Finland also has the best education system in the world while the good old USA is, I believe, ranked number18 and slowly decreasing.
It would be nice if ISPs and telecom companies in general weren't such greedy bastards, and actually used their government subsidies to upgrade their out of date, poorly maintained infrastructures.
I wish Verizon FiOS was available in Oregon.
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Millerson said 3:15AM on 10-20-2009
Finland is the best educational system in Europe, but South Korea is the best in the world, actually. Also, the study you are quoting that ranked the United States as only 18th, was in a selective comparison of 24 specific countries with data being rather confusingly mixed. Worldwide, the United States educational system has been ranked in 37th place at the high school level. Americans never want to hear such things. They want to wave their flags and pretend they are number one. The only thing America is number one in is the number of prisoners. Number one in the world by a landslide - more than China and Russia COMBINED, but with less than 1/6th of their combined population - and, no, it is not because other nations execute prisoners. Russia hasn't executed anyone in 20 years, and China's executions only exceed those of the US by about a thousand a year on average. That's a drop in the bucket compared to the 8 MILLION Americans in prison, in jail, on parole, or awaiting trial (about 5% of the entire adult male population of America).
voodkokk said 6:02AM on 10-20-2009
They will continue to not use it, what, is the gov't going to include it in their healthcare package? If the home computer went away today, we would generate jobs and people would get out of their house again. The movie/video/music stores would love it. Kids might even go outside and play again and get rid of all that fat they have been storing up.. I can guarantee you that giving someone 512kbs is not going to increase interest unless you like watching paint dry.
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msdsillusioned1 said 6:03AM on 10-20-2009
Is it inconceivable in today's day and age that SOME people have a life outside the internet? That they would rather play board games, socialize, read a book/newspaper than sit in front of their computers? And why is this a bad thing? I've seen too many people with internet addictions eschewing a day of fine weather so they can sit inside, on their computers trolling Facebook. It may not be a cost consideration for all consumers, but one of quality of life.
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nitecourt said 9:37AM on 10-20-2009
Why is the FCC scratching there head? The answer is $. The US is the place where you pay more $ for less speed compared to other countries.
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