For the First Time, Census Bureau Data Show Impact of Geography, Income on Broadband Internet Access

For the first time, US Census Bureau statistics show the impact that a county’s rural or urban geography and income level can have on residents’ rates of subscription to the internet. While the Census Bureau has reported national estimates of internet subscription for each of the past four years, the new data for all counties in the United States allow us to look at trends across smaller areas, including less populated rural areas. Nationally, 78 percent of households subscribe to the internet, but households in both rural and lower-income counties trail the national average by 13 points. In addition, the data show that Americans connect to the internet in a variety of ways, including through high-speed wired connections at home and cellular data plans while on the go.