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ERIC Number: ED399126
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1995-Jul
Pages: 42
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Falling through the Net: A Survey of the "Have Nots" in Rural and Urban America.
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (DOC), Washington, DC.
In November 1994, the Current Population Survey included questions on ownership and usage of computers and modems in addition to its customary questions on telephone "penetration." Data from this survey were cross-tabulated according to income, race, age, educational attainment, region, and geographic category (rural, urban, and central city) to create a profile of those not connected to the National Information Infrastructure. Overall, the poorest central-city households (incomes less than $10,000) had the lowest telephone penetration (79.8 percent), but the rural poor had the lowest computer penetration (4.5 percent) and, among households with computers, were least likely to have a modem. However, the most likely users of online classes were low-income users in all areas. With regard to racial categories, rural Native Americans had the lowest telephone penetration (75.5 percent), while rural Blacks had the lowest computer rates (6.4 percent). Regarding usage of online services, minority groups surpassed Whites in percentage of classified ad searches, taking courses, and accessing government reports. By age group, telephone penetration was lowest among the youngest rural households, while computer penetration was lowest among rural and central-city seniors and the youngest rural households. With some exceptions, educational attainment (tables 10-12) was related to telephone, computer, and modem penetration. For a given level of education, central-city households had the lowest telephone and computer penetration and rural households with computers had the lowest modem penetration. Participation in online courses was highest among those with the lowest educational attainment. Includes definitions and 30 data tables illustrated with bar charts. (SV)
Publication Type: Numerical/Quantitative Data; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: National Telecommunications and Information Administration (DOC), Washington, DC.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A