Examining the Digital Divide

1
Examining the Digital Divide

• Variations in Computer Access and Internet Use
  Across Nonmetro Regions of the U.S.

Lionel J. Beaulieu, Stephan Goetz and Melissa
Barfield February 2002
2
Introduction

• The advent of the Internet has opened up the
  windows of opportunity to people and communities
  across America.
• This technology has reduced the cost of social
  space, allowing individuals living in more remote
  areas of the U.S. to gain access to information
  accessible to those living in the more populated
  areas of the country.
• Major strides have been made in promoting digital
  inclusion among all of our nations residents.
• The Department of Commerces report, Falling
  Through the Net Toward Digital Inclusionpaints
  an upbeat picture of the significant advances
  that have been made in the adoption and use of
  the Internet by Americans.

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However . . .

• Ready access to both computers and to the
  Internet remains more a dream than a reality to
  countless individuals in the U.S
• This includes the elderly, African Americans,
  Hispanics, poorly-educated, those of low-income,
  and persons living in rural areas of the country.
• Such disparities has been the basis for the
  rallying cry regarding the presence of a digital
  divide in this nation.

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Purpose

• Recent studies suggest that the gap in computer
  ownership and Internet use is closing between
  metro and nonmetro residents
• But, these studies are simplistic in that they
  fail to consider the unique series of demographic
  and socioeconomic forces at play across the
  distinct regions of the United States.
• The purpose of this paper is to examine adoption
  of CITs among metro and nonmetro people living in
  the four distinct geographic regions of the
  country.

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Why Important?

• Increasingly, digital inclusion is becoming a
  prerequisite for full participation in the
  economic, political, and social life of America.
• It is estimated that 60 percent of current jobs
  now require some skills in the use of technology.
• Without such capability, it will be difficult for
  individuals to fully participate in the more
  complex, technology-oriented dimensions of our
  nations economy.

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Methodology

• Data are from the fourth survey of the Department
  of Commerces Falling Through the Net Series
• Information on computer access and Internet use
  was gathered from the 2000 CPS survey conducted
  in August of that year
• Approximately 48,000 households were part of the
  study

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Key Factors Influencing Home Computer Access
Internet Use at Home or Work
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The Importance of Spatial Location

• Latest reports appear to indicate that rural
  areas are catching up with larger areas in terms
  of computer access and Internet use
• Little has been done, however, to explore how
  access and use across metro and nonmetro areas
  might vary across the four regions of the U.S.

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Computer Access in the Home in the United States

• Profile by Metro Status and Key Characteristics

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Computer Access in U.S. Homes, by Metro Status
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Computer Access in U.S. Homes, by Gender,
Race/Ethnicity and Metro Status
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Computer Access in U.S. Homes, by Age and Metro
Status
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Computer Access in U.S.Homes, by Education and
Metro Status
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Computer Access in U.S. Homes, by Family Income
and Metro Status
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Computer Access in the Home in the United States

• Profile by Metro Status and U.S. Regions

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Computer Access in Metro and Nonmetro Homes,by
U.S. Regions
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Computer Access in Nonmetro Homes, by Gender and
Region
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Computer Access in Nonmetro Homes, by
Race/Ethnicity and Region
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Computer Access in Nonmetro Homes, by Presence of
Children Under 18 Years Old and Region
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Computer Access in Nonmetro Homes, by Education
and Region
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Computer Access by Nonmetro Homes, by Family
Income and Region
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Internet Use at Home or Work in the United States

• Profile by Metro Status and Key Characteristics

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Internet Use at Home or Work in the U.S., by
Metro Status
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Internet Use at Home/Work in the U.S., by Gender,
Race and Metro Status
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Internet Use at Home/Work in the U.S., by Age and
Metro Status
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Internet Use at Home/Work in the U.S., by
Education and Metro Status
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Internet Use at Home/Work in the U.S., by Family
Income and Metro Status
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Internet Use at Home or Work in the United States

• Profile by Metro Status and U.S. Regions

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Internet Users in Metro and Nonmetro Areas, by
U.S. Regions
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Internet Use at Home/Work in Nonmetro Areas, by
Gender and Region
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Internet Use at Home/Work in Nonmetro Areas, by
Race/Ethnicity and Region
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Internet Use in Home/Work in Nometro Areas, by
Presence of Children Under 18 Years Old and Region
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Internet Use at Home/Work in Nonmetro Areas, by
Education and Region
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Internet Use at Home/Work in Nonmetro Areas, by
Family Income and Region
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Conclusions

• Investments in digital inclusion must be
  undertaken in a more systematic, targeted fashion
• Rural South lags behind the rest of the nation on
  computer access and Internet use
• Focus must be given to those facing the greatest
  obstacles to adoption -- persons with a high
  school education or less, Hispanics, African
  Americans, elderly
• Must address the last mile problem in the rural
  South
• Youth should be seen as important resources for
  facilitating the diffusion of CIT to older rural
  residents