Study: U.S. Dial-Up Users Bypass Broadband
July 3, 2008 8:56 a.m. EST
Ed Sutherland - AHN EditorNew York, NY (AHN) - With broadband Internet in more than half of the nation's homes, a new survey indicates most dial-up users remain with the slower technology by choice, rather than lack of availability.
Only 14 percent of Americans remain with dial-up Internet access because it is not available where they live. Instead, more than a third -- 35 percent of dial-up subscribers -- feel broadband Internet service is too costly, according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project.
Another 19 percent won't switch to broadband for any reason.
For companies selling broadband services, the findings suggest they fine-tune their marketing toward rural areas instead of urban locations. Nearly a quarter of rural residents said they would opt for broadband if it was available, compared to only 3 percent of city residents saturated by such services.
The researchers found 55 percent of Americans now have broadband versus 10 percent of U.S. Internet users on dial-up.
