According to a recently released study by the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project, 74% of American adults use the Internet. The Pew Research Center also revealed that 60% of American adults use broadband connections at home and 55% of American adults connect to the Internet wirelessly. A similar study was done in the spring of 2009 by the Pew Research Center and this recent study shows that the number of Americans using broadband has dropped slightly, and that there has been a slight increase to those connecting to broadband wirelessly.
Why is this important? While many consumers have access to broadband Internet, there are still a significant number that are not connecting to – and using – the Internet. Bringing the benefits of broadband services to all consumers is a high priority for our nation. The government is investing billions of dollars in broadband infrastructure and programs and the Federal Communications Commission is crafting a national broadband plan. We anticipate the result will be tens of millions of new broadband users and we must make sure to educate those who are new to Internet technologies.
Learning the nuances of the Internet late in life can be a bit scary and if not careful, there are potential problems that can occur. For those of us currently using the Internet, we must encourage the FCC to ensure the Internet is accessible for all consumers, but also that everyone is informed about online safety, security and privacy before launching their online experience. Before connecting, everyone should know how to use network controls to get manage spam, how to maintain their privacy online and most importantly, how their own individual actions can affect the entire network — and how the network’s actions can impact their own online experience.
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