1. Broadband Data Quality: Issues for random digit dial surveys Progress & Freedom Foundation and Center for Public Integrity workshop John B. Horrigan Associate Director for Research

2. June 20072 Broadband penetration in the U.S., 2000-2007

3. June 20073 How does broadband adoption rate stack up? To reach 50% to consumer adoption it took: –18 years for color TV –15 years for the cell phone –14 years for the VCR –10 ½ years for the CD player Broadband should hit 50% by 9-10 year mark. Happy dial-up users? –Some 60% of dial-up users say they don’t want broadband, a figure that held constant from 2002- 2005

4. June 20074 Speed matters – narrow vs. broadband –Home high-speed connection is key differentiator in explaining internet usage patterns Do more things online on the typical day than dial-up users Spend more time online than dial-up users –Generally higher levels of internet impacts in: –Maintaining social networks –Getting information (e.g. civic engagement, news gathering) –Helping in major life decisions

5. June 20075 Does more speed matter? Hard to rely on self-reports from users on network speed Asked home high-speed users whether they know their connection speed… –17% said yes –81% didn’t know

6. June 20076 Challenges Measuring network speed & quality Knowing network availability Cell phone only users: –General problem for survey research –Looms larger & sooner for surveys on tech usage