Rural areas lag behind urban areas in Internet use

More rural residents rely on libraries and other locations to access the Internet

By Anne Byers, Nebraska Information Technology Commission

Rural areas have historically lagged behind urban and suburban areas in Internet use. The latest study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project found that only 52% of rural residents use the Internet, compared to 67% of urban residents, and 66% of suburban residents.

The difference in Internet use among urban areas and rural areas can be in part explained by the demographic make-up of rural areas. Rural areas have a higher proportion of older, less wealthy, and less educated residents than urban and suburban and urban areas. These groups are less likely to be online.

There is little difference in Internet use among middle and upper income residents of rural, suburban, and urban areas. There is, however, a difference in Internet use among lower income residents. Rural low-income residents are less likely to be online than low-income urban or suburban residents.

Libraries play an important role in providing access to computers and the Internet. Rural residents are far more likely to depend upon a library or other non-work or non-home location. Eight percent of rural Internet users rely entirely on a location other than work or home to access the Internet. In comparison, only 3% of suburban users and 5% of urban users access the Internet only from a non-work or non-home location

The Nebraska Library Commission maintains a database of public access sites, most of which are located in public libraries. The database can be accessed at http://www.nol.org/home/CIO/public_access/.

The Pew Internet and American Life report, Rural Areas and the Internet, can be accessed at http://www.pewinternet.org/reports/toc.asp?Report=112 .

TANgents, a quarterly publication of Technologies Across Nebraska, is edited and produced by Linda Tempel, University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension, ltempel@unlnotes.unl.edu, and Anne Byers, Nebraska Information Technology Commission, abyers@notes.state.ne.us. Please contact us if you would like to contribute an article or an idea for an article. Comments and suggestions are also welcome.