Summary

The Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, content analysis and other data-driven social science research. Three notable changes relating to digital access and digital divides are occurring in the realm of personal connectivity, according to new findings from Pew Research Center surveys. Home broadband adoption has plateaued at 67% of Americans, down slightly from 70% in 2013, and this downtick in home high-speed adoption has taken place since 2012. The Pew Research Center has found that several groups are shifting their home internet connectivity away from broadband and toward smartphones. 15% of American adults have become "cord cutters" due to the availability of television content from the internet and other sources. Overall, "advanced internet access" has changed little since 2013, with 80% of adults having either a smartphone or a home broadband subscription. However, those who are smartphone-reliant face challenges, such as running up against data-cap limits and having to cancel or suspend service due to financial constraints. Additionally, those who use digital tools for job searches face challenges when it comes to key tasks such as filling out job applications and writing cover letters. When given a choice, people prefer to use their smartphone for getting in touch with family or friends, but prefer a device with a larger screen that uses a home broadband connection. Two recent shifts have highlighted the tension between the potential benefits of digital technologies and the day-to-day financial constraints of many households. Americans are increasingly likely to view home broadband as a key tool for accessing information that is important to their lives, but the monthly cost of broadband service is now cited by a plurality of non-adopters as the most important reason for not having a home broadband subscription. Non-broadband adopters who view a lack of home service as a major disadvantage are also more likely to cite it as the primary reason they do not subscribe. Price sensitivity is greatest among those who are most likely to see the advantages of a home-broadband subscription. In 2010 and 2015, Pew Research Center asked Americans whether they thought being without a home broadband connection was a major disadvantage in several different topical areas. Results showed that there has been a substantial increase over that period in the share of adults who say that not having a home high-speed connection is a major disadvantage when looking for job opportunities, accessing government information, searching for employment, following the news, learning new things, or getting health information. Today, two-thirds (65%) of non-adopters say that lacking home broadband service is at least one of these areas, compared with just under half (48%) who said so in 2010. Additionally, 40% of non-high speed users say that being without broadband is a major advantage for learning about or accessing government services, compared with 40% in 2010.

After reading the "Home Broadband 2015" article (PIP_Broadband.pdf document) under Course Content/Readings, provide the following information:

1) Major themes

2) Major Issues

3) Major Stakeholders

4) social, legal, and/or ethical issues

5) Results

6) Personal Opinion of additional Solutions