Lessons on Internet Access and Use Statistics from Falling Through the Net IV: Toward Digital Inclusion Lee Price Deputy Under Secretary Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Department of Commerce The Digital Divide: Enhancing Access to ICTs OECD Workshop Paris, France December 7, 2000

From The Most Comprehensive U.S. Data U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Survey Supplements A survey of 48,000 households that also provides data on 121,745 individuals. (August 2000) U.S. Bureau of the Census, Survey of Income and Program Participation A continuous series of national panel surveys with sample sizes ranging from 11,500 to 36,700 households. (Autumn 1999)

We Have Learned That Household and Individual Data Yield Different Perspectives on Access and Use. It is important to distinguish access (the opportunity to go online) and actual usage. Household data are good for macro trends, but can be misleading for analysis of cross sections.

Half of U.S. Homes Have Computers Now Computer Internet And Half Will Have Internet Access In 2001

Different Perspectives on Internet Access and Use Online Households Are Larger Only 3 in 4 People Use Home Access Some People Use the Internet Only Outside the Home Online Households Persons

Household Data Can Be Misleading for Sub-Groups

We Have Learned That Correlated Variables May Have Independent Affects. Income and Education Age and Labor Force Status

Internet Access Is Strongly Correlated With Income

And With the Education of the Household Head

But, Income & Education Have Independent Effects

Internet Use by Age and Labor Force Status

We Have Learned That Aggregate Results Sometimes Mask Conflicting Underlying Trends. Age and Gender

Internet Use by Gender Was Roughly Even in 2000

But, A Cross-Section Tells A More Complete Story Women Move Ahead Age Women Catching Up Beyond Age 50

We Have Learned That Different measures of progress can yield differing results Point Change Versus Percent Change

Point Gains Are Highest For Ages 20 to 60…

But, Percentage Gain Is Higher Among Young & Old

Point Changes Are Larger At Higher Incomes…

But, Percentage Gains Are Higher At Lower Incomes

Limitations of Current Data We measure participation and not intensity of use.

Limitations of Current Data We measure participation and not intensity of use. Proxy data do not always provide reliable estimates.

Poorly Worded Questions Lead to Ambiguous Results Do People with Disabilities Use Internet Access at the Same Rate?

Falling Through the Net IV: Toward Digital Inclusion Lee Price Deputy Under Secretary Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Department of Commerce