Broadband

Rural adults are less likely than suburban adults to have home broadband and less likely than urban adults to own a smartphone, tablet or computer.

Black and Hispanic Americans remain less likely than White adults to say they own a traditional computer or have high-speed internet at home.

Smartphone ownership and home broadband adoption are up slightly since 2019. And 30% of Americans say they at least sometimes experience problems connecting to the internet at home.

Some 15% of all home broadband users in the U.S. say they have had trouble paying for their high-speed internet service during the pandemic.

Note: For the latest survey data on home broadband adoption and smartphone use, see “Mobile Technology and Home Broadband 2021” As the share of Americans who say they own a smartphone has increased dramatically over the past decade – from 35% in 2011 to 81% in 2019 – a new Pew Research Center survey finds that […]

The use of digital technology has had a long stretch of rapid growth in the United States, but the share of Americans who go online, use social media or own key devices has remained stable the past two years.

Fast, reliable internet service has become broadly essential. But 24% of rural U.S. adults say access to high-speed internet is a major problem in their community.

At the same time, the contours of connectivity are shifting: One-in-five Americans (20%) are now ‘smartphone only’ internet users at home.

Nearly two-thirds of those age 65 and older go online and a record share now own smartphones – although many seniors remain relatively divorced from digital life.

As the FCC continues to address broadband infrastructure and access, Americans have mixed views on two policies designed to encourage broadband adoption.