The Unconnected Home

Like any economic good, the availability and consumption of broadband services is a balance of supply and demand. On the demand side, the major barrier to broadband adoption may not be price or availability but perceived need — 44% of those surveyed by Connected Nation simply said, "I don't need it." Broadband advocates contend that focusing on increasing consumers' understanding of broadband services — essentially boosting service demand — still is the better way to boost broadband penetration. For instance, the e-NC Authority in North Carolina works with service providers to improve infrastructure deployment in the state. At the same time, "we also have a very strong focus on helping every citizen learn how to use computers and the Internet," said Jane Patterson, executive director of e-NC. The group has helped to create a program — the first in the nation — that requires a mandatory junior-high-level exam covering the use of computer and information technologies, she said.