FW: Daily Digest 02/23/2010

 93 MILLION AMERICANS DISCONNECTED FROM BROADBAND OPPORTUNITIES.   FCC
Survey Finds Cost and Digital Literacy Main Barriers to Broadband
Adoption.  News Release. News Media Contact: Jen Howard at (202)
418-0506, email: Jen.Howard@fcc.gov  OCH
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-296443A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-296443A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-296443A1.txt

The survey identifies three main barriers to adoption:

· Affordability: 36 percent of non-adopters, or 28 million adults, said they do not have home

broadband because the monthly fee is too expensive (15 percent), they cannot afford a computer,

the installation fee is too high (10 percent), or they do not want to enter into a long-term service

contract (9 percent). According to survey respondents, their average monthly broadband bill is

$41.

· Digital Literacy: 22 percent of non-adopters, or 17 million adults, indicated that they do not have

home broadband because they lack the digital skills (12 percent) or they are concerned about

potential hazards of online life, such as exposure to inappropriate content or security of personal

information (10 percent).

· Relevance: 19 percent of non-adopters, or 15 million adults, said they do not have broadband

because they say that the Internet is a waste of time, there is no online content of interest to them

or, for dial-up users, they are content with their current service.