Home Broadband Adoption 2007

The rate of broadband adoption is slowing in the United States, partly because service providers already have grabbed the easiest converts.

John B. Horrigan, Associate Director for Research and Aaron Smith, Research Specialist

Pew Internet & American Life Project

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.