Does Place Really Matter? Broadband Availability, Race and Income

New research assessing broadband availability mapping data released by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The study includes analyses of wireline and wireless access in high minority, low-income communities in three locations -- South Carolina, Chicago and Los Angeles. Among the findings:

• while the availability of broadband in these communities is increasing, levels of adoption still remain relatively low;
• the differences in broadband deployment can not be explained by race alone; and
• despite the availability of mobile broadband in low-income, high minority areas, wireless coverage is still inconsistent within regions.