Broadband penetration among U.S. households continued to rise in 2014, according to a new consumer study from Leichtman Research Group (LRG). Seventy-nine percent of U.S. households now receive broadband Internet service at home, up from 20 percent in 2004, according to LRG’s “Broadband Internet Access & Services in the Home 2014.”
Broadband connections now account for 95 percent of all U.S. households with Internet service at home. That’s up one percentage point from 2013, up from 89 percent in 2009, and from 33 percent in 2004, according to LRG.
U.S. Broadband Penetration
Americans are also spending more time online when at home, LRG found: 2.8 hours per day as compared to 2.2 back in 2009. As revealed in other studies, time spent online at home decreases with age. Those aged 18-34 on average spend 3.3 hours per day online at home. Those aged 35-54 spend an average 2.8, while those 55 and over 2.1.
Commenting on LRG’s findings, company president and principal analyst Bruce Leichtman said, “The percentage of US households with a computer, and the percentage of households that get an online service at home, has leveled off over the past few years, while broadband continues to grow at a modest pace. Along with more people accessing a broadband Internet service at home than ever before, more time is also being spent online at home.”
Other highlights from LRG’s latest annual study include:
- 84% of households get an Internet service at home — similar to recent years;
- 63% of adults access the Internet on a smartphone — up from 44% in 2012;
- 59% get Internet service at home and on a smartphone — up from 42% in 2012;
- 24% of people who are not online at home access the Internet on a smartphone — compared to 19% last year, and 12% in 2012;
- 2% of households paid to subscribe to Internet service at home in the past year, do not currently subscribe, and do not plan to subscribe again in the next six months;
- 41% of households with annual incomes <$30,000 do not use a laptop or desktop computer at home — compared to 9% with incomes >$30,000;
- 2% of all households have an iPad or tablet, but do not use a desktop or laptop computer.
