Home Broadband Adoption 2007

After exhibiting relatively strong growth between early 2005 and early 2006, home
broadband adoption in 2006-2007 grew at its slowest rate in recent years. As of March
2007, 47% of adult Americans say they have a high-speed connection at home, up from
42% in early 2006. This 12% year-to-year growth rate is much lower than the 40% rate in
the previous period.

Despite relatively slow growth on a percentage basis compared with previous years, the
number of home broadband users in early 2007 is now roughly as large (on a percentage
basis) as the entire universe of internet users in the first year of the Pew Internet Project’s
surveys of online use. In June 2000, 48% of respondents reported going online via any
type of connection to check email or access the Internet, compared with the 47% who
have a home broadband connection now.

Summary of Findings

• 47% of all adult Americans have a broadband connection at home as of early
  2007, a five percentage point increase from early 2006.

• Among individuals who use the internet at home, 70% have a broadband
  connection while 23% use dialup.

• Home broadband adoption in rural areas, now 31%, continues to lag high speed
  adoption in urban centers and suburbs.
  • Internet usage in rural areas also trails the national average; 60% of rural
    adults use the internet from any location, compared with the national
    average of 71%.
• 40% of African Americans now have a broadband connection at home, a nine
  percentage point increase from early 2006.
  • Since 2005, the percentage of African American adults with a home
    broadband connection has nearly tripled, from 14% in early 2005 to
    40% in early 2007.