US Telephone Penetration Reaches Highest Level Ever

The Federal Communications Commission released its latest report on telephone subscribership levels in the United States. The report presents subscribership statistics based on the Current Population Survey conducted by the Census Bureau in March 2009. The report also shows subscribership levels by state, income level, race, age, household size, and employment status. Inside you will find: 1) The telephone subscribership penetration rate in the US was 95.6%, an increase of 0.4% over the rate from March 2008. This is the highest reported rate since the CPS began collecting this data in November 1983. 2) The telephone penetration rate for households in income categories below $15,000 was at or below 92.7%, while the rate for households in income categories over $40,000 was at least 97.9%. 3) Penetration rates ranged from 91.5% for households headed by a person under 25 to at least 96.5% for households headed by a person over 55. 4) The penetration rate for unemployed adults was 94.9%, while the rate for employed adults was 96.6%.