press release Californians Expand Use of Computers, Internet, Broadband—But Digital Divide Leaves Many Behind Jun 24, 2009
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Information Technology By Mark Baldassare, Jennifer Paluch, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek Jun 25, 2008 Some findings of the current survey: Less than half of California Latinos (48%) have home computers compared to about eight in 10 or more for whites (86%), Asians (84%), and blacks (79%). Just four in 10 Latinos (40%) have Internet access and a third (34%) a broadband connection at home. Among households with incomes under $40,000, half have home computers, but only four in 10 (40%) have home Internet access and just a third (33%) have broadband. Twenty-nine percent of Californians have DSL, 19 percent have cable modems, 5 percent have wireless, and 2 percent have fiber optic or T-1 connections. Just 7 percent have dial-up connections. This is the 87th PPIC Statewide Survey and the first in the Californians and Information Technology survey series, whose intent is to inform state policymakers, encourage discussion, and raise public awareness about a variety of information technology issues. This survey includes the responses of 2,503 Californians in multiple languages, on both landline and cell phones, and was conducted in collaboration with the California Emerging Technology Fund.
California Economic Policy, Report Broadband for All? Gaps in California’s Broadband Adoption and Availability By Jed Kolko Jul 10, 2007 California has consistently led the rest of the country in the average number of households with access to the high-speed Internet connection known as broadband. Yet within the state broadband availability and adoption vary dramatically. Some rural areas have no access at all. In others, households cannot afford it. Recognizing the advantages more broadband could bring to its citizenry and its economies, local and state government agencies have initiated a number of programs to increase availability and adoption. Using new data and techniques, this issue of California Economic Policy examines the current broadband landscape and the potential effects and deficiencies of these new initiatives.
