The Digital Divide in U.S. Mobile Technology and Speeds

This paper explores two research questions. First, is there a digital divide in how certain groups access mobile broadband as measured by the mobile connection technology? Second, is there a digital divide in the quality of their mobile broadband as measured by download and upload speeds? Overall, we conclude that the mobile digital divide does exist across certain dimensions. Rural areas are somewhat more dependent on non-Wi-Fi mobile technology and experience slower speeds on their mobile connections. We also find that counties with higher minority populations are more likely to use older mobile technologies and experience slower speeds. Counties with older populations are more likely to use mobile technologies and are more likely to have slower speeds. Counties with larger households are more likely to use Wi-Fi and also have faster Wi-Fi. Indicators of economic health, as well as technological and infrastructure related variables, have mixed and complicated effects. These complex results suggest that future research and on-the-ground data are necessary to further examine the nature of the mobile digital divide.