US Census Bureau

American Indian and Alaska Natives living in tribal areas have among the nation’s lowest rates of high-speed internet access in the United States.

Access to the internet via computer or smartphone is an important part of many Americans’ day-to-day lives. People use the internet for completing personal and professional tasks and for interacting with others across vast geographic distances. From browsing social media to paying bills online and countless other activities in between, access to the internet is nearly essential for many Americans.

The last two decades bore witness to a marked explosion in information-sharing readily available at our fingertips via mobile devices and touchscreens.

The US Census Bureau, in partnership with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), announced the launch of the ACCESS BROADBAND Dashboard. "ACCESS BROADBAND" stands for Advancing Critical Connectivity Expands Service, Small Business Resources, Opportunities, Access, and Data Based on Assessed Need and Demand Act.

The Census Bureau released the 2013-2017 American Community Survey (ACS) five-year estimates. Data on Internet subscription rates:

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.