The latest findings of the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project mark a departure from the stagnation in home high-speed adoption rates that had prevailed from December 2007 through December 2008. During that period, Project surveys found that home broadband penetration remained in a narrow range between 54% and 57%.
The greatest growth in broadband adoption in the past year has taken place among population subgroups that have below average usage rates. Broadband usage among adults ages 65 or older grew from 19% in May 2008 to 30% in April 2009. Overall, respondents who live in homes with an annual household income below $30,000 experienced a 34% growth in home broadband adoption from 2008 to 2009.
Broadband adoption appears to be largely immune to the effects of the current economic recession. More than twice as many respondents said they had cut back or cancelled a cell phone plan or cable TV service than said the same about their Internet service.
The Pew Internet Project’s April 2009 survey interviewed 2,253 Americans, 561 of whom were interviewed on their cell phones.
