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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| US broadband usage rises sharply | US broadband usage rises sharply |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Some 63% of adult Americans now have broadband internet connections at home, according to the Pew Internet Project. | Some 63% of adult Americans now have broadband internet connections at home, according to the Pew Internet Project. |
| The results surprised researchers, showing a 15% increase from a year earlier. | The results surprised researchers, showing a 15% increase from a year earlier. |
| Net services seem to have escaped the with Americans more willing to cut back on mobile phone usage or cable TV than broadband. | Net services seem to have escaped the with Americans more willing to cut back on mobile phone usage or cable TV than broadband. |
| Of those who still were not connected, 17% said it was because the technology was not available in their area. | Of those who still were not connected, 17% said it was because the technology was not available in their area. |
| Nearly a quarter of those surveyed said they had cancelled or cut back on cable TV services or mobile phone services but only 9% said they had cancelled or cut back on broadband services. | Nearly a quarter of those surveyed said they had cancelled or cut back on cable TV services or mobile phone services but only 9% said they had cancelled or cut back on broadband services. |
| "For many Americans a home broadband connection is a conduit for connecting to community and economic opportunity," said John B Horrigan, associate director of the Pew Internet Project. | "For many Americans a home broadband connection is a conduit for connecting to community and economic opportunity," said John B Horrigan, associate director of the Pew Internet Project. |
| "That puts broadband in the 'must keep' category for most users, even when economic times are tough." | "That puts broadband in the 'must keep' category for most users, even when economic times are tough." |
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| Michelle Fleury on how the US's free market leaves it with slower web access than in other countries. | |
| Rural growth | Rural growth |
| Broadband users were asked how they viewed the importance of broadband in their lives. | Broadband users were asked how they viewed the importance of broadband in their lives. |
| Over half (55%) said that it was very important to at least one dimension of their lives, such as communicating with health care providers, the government or sharing information about the community. | Over half (55%) said that it was very important to at least one dimension of their lives, such as communicating with health care providers, the government or sharing information about the community. |
| Americans over 65 showed a 58% increase in adoption while low income families also showed growth. | Americans over 65 showed a 58% increase in adoption while low income families also showed growth. |
| The number of families living on household incomes of less than £18,000 with broadband connections grew by to 35%, a 40% increase on the previous year. | The number of families living on household incomes of less than £18,000 with broadband connections grew by to 35%, a 40% increase on the previous year. |
| Rural Americans using broadband also grew to 46%, a 22% growth from last year. | Rural Americans using broadband also grew to 46%, a 22% growth from last year. |
| But take-up of broadband among African Americans continued to rate below average, with less than half (46%) using a fast net service. | But take-up of broadband among African Americans continued to rate below average, with less than half (46%) using a fast net service. |
| In the UK a similar survey by the Oxford Internet Institute found that twice as many people from higher than lower socio-economic use the internet, while the percentage of retired people online had risen just 4% since 2003 to 34%. | In the UK a similar survey by the Oxford Internet Institute found that twice as many people from higher than lower socio-economic use the internet, while the percentage of retired people online had risen just 4% since 2003 to 34%. |