Almost three quarters of California households have access to broadband Internet, a 33 percent increase since 2008, according to a new survey by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC). The survey also found that 87 percent of Californians use the Internet, a 17% increase since 2008.
The fifth annual "PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Information Technology" found that 73 percent of Californians can access broadband Internet from their homes, compared to 66 percent of adults nationwide according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project survey from May 2012.
The survey, which is conducted in collaboration with the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) and ZeroDivide, compared the number of current Internet connections to those in the past.
In 2008, Californians matched the national average home broadband adoption rate of 55 percent, after which it began to outpace national growth by 33 percent to 20 percent.
"More Californians are getting connected at home as they learn the benefits of broadband to gain educational and employment opportunities, stay healthy, and improve their quality of life," said Sunne Wright McPeak, President and CEO of CETF in a press statement. "I’m especially pleased that groups targeted because of low-adoption rates are showing substantial growth."
The survey also found that since 2008, Latino household adoption rates increased by 70 percent, although their current rate of 58 percent is still behind Caucasians (84 percent), Asians (76 percent), and African-Americans (74 percent).
Other demographics have also experienced large increases in Internet adoption rates. Households earning less than $40,000 have increased by 81 percent, households with children have increased by 40 percent, and households with no college degrees have increased by 75 percent, according to the survey.
Overall, the highest Internet adoption rate in California was found in the San Francisco Bay Area and Orange County/San Diego, which have adoption rates of 78 percent. Following behind are Central Valley and Inland Empire with 71 percent adoption rates and Los Angeles County with a 69 percent adoption rate.
