New Report Reveals Hispanics Prefer Broadband

By Laura K. Galos -- Críticas, 7/15/2007

The PEW Internet and American Life Project released last month the results of its 2007 Home Broadband Adoption Report, which reveal that Latinos come close to the national average regarding broadband versus dialup connections. Of all U.S. Hispanics with at-home Internet access, 66 percent have a broadband connection versus dialup, which is comparable to the overall national percentage (70 percent). The findings also show that a little over half (56 percent) of the total U.S. Latino population goes online from any location, a somewhat lower percentage than that of both non-Hispanic blacks and non-Hispanic whites, at 62 and 73 percent, respectively.

In general, users with access to broadband utilize the Internet more than those with dial-up. PEW research suggests that there is a “strong relationship between high-speed Internet access and the richness and intensity of the online experience.” Broadband users in general not only use the Internet more frequently but also engage in more online activities, such as emailing or reading the news and blogs. PEW cites the relatively fast speed and “always-on connection” as main factors in the disparity between the frequency of online activity between those with broadband and those with dialup.

While most findings in this study were taken from data collected in February and March 2007, the data relating specifically to Latinos was collected by the PEW Internet Project and the PEW Hispanic Center from June–October 2006. The 6,016 participating Latinos were given the option of completing the assessment in either English or Spanish, providing a more inclusive look at Latino broadband usage than an English-only survey could offer.

To read the full report, go to www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Broadband%202007.pdf.