Digital Divide Continues To Plague U.S.

The line between the digital haves and have nots is as well defined as ever, according to a new report by the U.S. . The survey is based on data collected in 2003. It included questions about computer and Internet use at home, school, and work.

The survey revealed that, overall, about 62 percent of households have one computer or more, while some 55 percent have access to the Internet. Households in the West continue to have the highest rates of computer ownership and Internet access, with some 67 percent owning a computer and 59 percent having access to the Internet in western states. Utah, Alaska, New Hampshire, and Washington are the states with the highest rates of computer ownership.

The study concluded, not surprisingly, that the wealthier a family is, the more likely it is to have a computer and access to the Web. Among families with an income of at least $100,000 or more, 95 percent owned a minimum of one computer and 92 percent had access to the internet at home.

Digital Revolution

The report also found that lower-income households still are being left out of the digital revolution. In families earning less than $25,000, only 41 percent had a computer and only 31 percent had an Internet connection.

Computer ownership among African-Americans and Latinos lags behind that of European-Americans and Asian-Americans, with computer ownership at roughly 45 percent for the former two and 60 percent and 67 percent for the latter two groups.

As expected, level of education also is a major factor in the likelihood that a household will own a computer and have Internet access. Just under one-third of those without a high school diploma own a computer, compared to 80 percent of those with a bachelor's degree.

Geographical location is another important factor. Although the gap is narrowing, households in the South were less likely than those in the Midwest, Northeast, or West to own a computer and have an Internet connection. Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas were among the states with the lowest percentage of ownership and access.

Change Not Coming

Analysts say the digital divide is a pervasive problem for Americans. According to Ted Schadler, vice president and principal analyst at Forrester Research, the digital divide boils down to two things: money for a computer and Internet service, and access to an Internet service provider.

"The cost of computers is still a problem along with access to Internet service," said Schadler. "If you don't see marketing efforts toward your group and someone to set up the computer and internet service, you are less likely to have it."

Schadler said that until the government mandates universal use of computers and access to the Internet, the disparity between the connected and the unconnected will continue. "Until the government says you have to have this, there won't be much change," he said. "And we are a ways away from that."

Although Schadler is optimistic about the increasing availability of more and more services and conveniences as well as the growing number of computer systems available to students, he said the gap will continue to expand.

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