96% of US Households Have Telephone Service

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 (CPS) conducted by the Census Bureau in March 2010. The report also shows subscribership levels by state, income level, race, age, household size, and employment status.
In March 2010:

• The telephone subscribership penetration rate in the U.S. was 96.0%, an increase of 0.4% over the rate from March 2009. This is the highest reported rate since the CPS began collecting this data in November 1983.
• The telephone penetration rate for households in income categories below $15,000 was at or below 92.8%, while the rate for households in income categories over $50,000 was at least 98.0%.
• Among the states, the penetration rates ranged from a low of 91.0% to a high of 98.8%.
• Penetration rates ranged from 93.8% for households headed by a person under 25 to at least 96.1% for households headed by a person over 55.
• Households with one person had a penetration rate of 94.2%, compared to a rate of 96.8% for households with four or five persons.
• The penetration rate for unemployed adults was 95.4%, while the rate for employed adults was 96.9%.