Broadband Adoption and Not Availability is Key Challenge, Says One Economy

Although broadband is largely available in low-income communities in the United States, many of the poor do not see a reason to subscribe, said One Economy Vice President for External Affairs Alec Ross. For the first time in the history of telecom, adoption rates among the poor fell, said Ross. The Pew study reported that among adults living in households with annual incomes of less than $20,000 annually, the percentage dropped from 28 percent in March 2007 to 25 percent in April/May 2008. The decline in adoption is likely a result of the declining economy and a culture that causes many to worry about privacy and identity issues online, Ross said.