Pew: Broadband growth flattens

The annual double-digit growth in the number of Americans who have high-speed Internet access at home as slowed dramatically, according to the Pew Internet and American Life study. Sixty-six percent of Americans report access at home, up only a statistically insignificant tic from 63 percent in 2009.

Perhaps even more surprising is the finding that more than half of those surveyed for the study said they didn't think the spread of broadband access should be a high government priority. Non-Internet users are even more likely to hold that opinion.

The sentiment seems to fly in the face of the federal government's effort to put some $7 billion in stimulus money into making access just such a priority. More than $100 million has been awarded this year to Minnesota governments and companies to expand the availability of broadband.

A huge exception to slowed trend in gaining broadband access is the continued growth of broadband use among black Americans. The percentage of African-Americans reporting access at home rose 10 percentage points to 56 percent.

The findings are based on more than 2,200 telephone interviews conducted from late April to late May for Pew by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. You can find the full report, published today, here. (PDF file).

Trying to probe how Americans value the Internet, surveyors asked respondents on a half dozen fronts -- jobs, health care, enriching their lives, getting government services, keeping up with news, maintaining contact with their communities -- whether not having high-speed access is a disadvantage. In every case, fewer than half said lack of access was a major disadvantage.

And, among those Americans who don't use the Internet, its perceived lack of relevance to their lives far outweighs price as the reason.

• Annandale watches special session for broadband help
• DNR pushes ahead with its groundwater planning
• Broadband providers seek $44 million from state fund