Americans Value Internet Access Over Mobiles, Cable TV

WASHINGTON, D.C.: A new study released today by the Pew Internet & American Life Project reveals that Americans value the Internet over their cell phones and cable TV services, with broadband adoption rates in the U.S. up 15 percent this year.

The 29-page study was unveiled today in Washington, D.C. at the Internet Innovation Alliance’s Symposium "Developing a National Broadband Strategy: Deployment, Adoption and the Stimulus."

"We found that broadband is now in the ‘must keep’ category for Americans, even when economic times are tough," said John B. Horrigan, the associate director of the Pew Internet Project and principal author of the report. "Many consumers view their home broadband connection as a conduit for connecting to community and economic opportunities."

Pew notes that 63 percent of adult Americans surveyed now have broadband Internet connections at home, and that people are twice as likely to say they have cut back or cancelled a cell phone plan or cable TV service than Internet service. Nine percent of Internet users have cancelled or cut back online service in the past 12 months in a a bid to save money, versus 22 percent who have cancelled or cut back cable TV service. In addition, 22 percent of cell phone users have cancelled or scaled back their mobile services in the last year.

Another key finding is that some 55 percent of home broadband users said broadband was very important to at least one dimension of their lives and community, such as communicating with health care providers, government officials, sharing information about the community, or contributing to economic growth.