Statewide Survey on Broadband Adoption 2021...1% 3% 85% 76% 92% 65% 91% 91% 89% Total Hispanic (Net) Hispanic (EnglishSpeaking) Hispanic (Spanish Speaking) White,Non‐Hispanic Black

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StatewideSurveyonBroadbandAdoption2021Internet Adoption and the “Digital Divide” in California

ResultsfromasurveyconductedfortheCaliforniaEmergingTechnologyFund

(CETF)

University of Southern CaliforniaPrincipal Investigator: Dr. Hernan Galperin

March 2021

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AbouttheStatewideSurveyonAdoption

• Population: California Adults (age 18 and older)• SampleSize: 1,650 Households• MethodofCollection: Telephone Survey• SamplingMethod: Random-Digit Dialing (RDD) of

Cellphones (94%) and Landlines (6%) in California• Languages: English, Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese• MarginofError: ~2% for 95% Confidence Level• Weights: Results Were Adjusted for Age, Gender,

Race/Ethnicity, Education and Region based on ACS 2019• FieldworkDates: February 10 – March 22, 2021

2

00

1010

2020

3030

4040

5050

6060

7070

8080

9090

1001002021 2021 2017201720082008

California Overall

Inland Empire

Orange -San Diego

Central Valley

Bay AreaLos Angeles

48%48%

65%65%

53%53%

58%58% 56%56% 55%55%

88%88%

93%93%

84%84% 86%86%

80%80%

87%87%89%89%

96%96%

86%86%89%89%

91%91%92%92%

SMARTPHONE SMARTPHONE ONLYONLY

CALIFORNIA BROADBAND ADOPTIONCALIFORNIA BROADBAND ADOPTIONREGIONSREGIONS

23%23%

15%15%

20%20%

9%9%

20%20%18%18%

8%8%4%4%

6%6%3%3%

5%5% 6%6%

EXCEEDED 2022 GOAL: 90% OVERALL ADOPTION

00

1010

2020

3030

4040

5050

6060

7070

8080

9090

100100

CaliforniaOverall

RuralHouseholds

Peoplewith Disabilities

LatinoHouseholds

Low-IncomeHouseholds

33%33% 34%34% 36%36%

51%51%55%55%

81%81% 82%82%

75%75%

87%87% 87%87%

82%82% 84%84% 83%83%

91%91%

79%79%

SMARTPHONE SMARTPHONE ONLYONLY

CALIFORNIA BROADBAND ADOPTIONCALIFORNIA BROADBAND ADOPTIONGROUPSGROUPS

EXCEEDED 2022 GOAL: 90% OVERALL ADOPTION

25%25%28%28%

15%15% 16%16%18%18%

11%11%8%8%

10%10% 11%11%

6%6%

202120212017201720082008

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BroadbandadoptioninCaliforniacontinuestorisewhiletheshareofsmartphone‐onlyusersdrops.

55%

62%

70%72% 73%

75% 75%79%

84%87% 88%

91%

67%71% 70% 69%

78%

85%

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Broadband Adoption in California (2008‐2021)Overall Connected* Connected through desktop/laptop/tablet

Source: 2021 from USC; 2017/2019 from Berkeley IGS Poll; 2014 to 2016 from The Field Poll; 2008 to 2013 from PPIC.

*Includes those who can connect to the Internet either through a desktop, laptop, tablet computer, or smartphone.

† 90.5% of households are connected, rounding to 91%. 84.8% are connected with a laptop, desktop or tablet, and 5.7% are smartphone only.

†

Smartphone-only

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9%

16%

2%

25%

5%

8%

8%

6%

8%

6%

10%

4%

1%

3%

85%

76%

92%

65%

91%

91%

89%

Total

Hispanic (Net)

Hispanic (English Speaking)

Hispanic (Spanish Speaking)

White, Non‐Hispanic

Black

Asian American

Broadband Adoption by Race/Ethnicity

Unconnected Underconnected (smartphone only) Connected through desktop/laptop/tablet

Nearly1in4Hispanicsareunconnectedorunderconnected,significantlybehindotherracial/ethnicgroups.

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9%

4%

2%

3%

10%

23%

6%

5%

6%

2%

8%

5%

85%

90%

92%

95%

82%

72%

Total

18‐29

30‐39

40‐49

50‐64

65 & older

Broadband Adoption by Age Group


Adoptionforolderadultslags,morethan1in4residentsage65andolderareunconnectedorunderconnected.

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However,therehavebeensignificantgainsinadoptionamongolderadultssince2019.

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9%

6%

13%

6%

7%

4%

85%

87%

83%

Total

Men

Women

Broadband Adoption by Gender


Asmallbutsignificantgendergapinadoptionexists.Whilewomenaremorethantwiceaslikelytobeunconnected,menmakeupalargershareofsmartphone‐onlyusers.

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TherearesignificantdisparitiesinbroadbandadoptionacrossCalifornia,withLosAngelesCountyandtheCentralValleylaggingbehindotherregions.

9%

5%

8%

9%

11%

11%

14%

6%

4%

5%

8%

3%

8%

6%

85%

92%

87%

83%

86%

81%

80%

Total

Bay Area

Inland Empire

Rest of California

Orange County/San Diego County

Los Angeles County

Central Valley

Broadband Adoption by Region


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Therearealsodisparitiesinbroadbandadoptionbetweenmetroandnon‐metroareas.

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9%

7%

13%

6%

5%

11%

85%

88%

76%

Total

Metro

Non‐Metro*

Broadband Adoption by Metro vs. Non‐Metro Area


* Non‐metro areas are defined using the USDA Rural‐Urban Commuting Area codes 4‐10.

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Nearlyhalfofthosewithoutahighschooldegreeareunconnectedorunderconnected,instarkcontrasttothosewithhighereducationalattainment.

9%

37%

8%

3%

3%

1%

6%

12%

7%

5%

2%

2%

85%

51%

85%

92%

95%

97%

Total

Less than High School

High School Degreeor Equivalent

Some College orTrade School

College Graduate

Post‐graduateDegree

Broadband Adoption by Educational Attainment


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Adoptionforthosewithoutahighschooldegreeislowerthanitwasin2019,likelyreflectingtheimpactoftheCOVID‐19pandemiconthelow‐wageworkforce.

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Peoplewithdisabilitiesaremorethantwiceaslikelytobeunconnectedorunderconnected.

9%

17%

8%

6%

10%

5%

85%

73%

87%

Total

DifferentlyAbled orDisabled

NotDifferentlyAbled orDisabled


Broadband Adoption by Disability Status

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However,theoverallbroadbandadoptiongapforpeoplewithdisabilitiescontinuestonarrow.

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Differently Abled or Disabled Not Differently Abled or Disabled

Broadband Adoption by Disability Status (2014 ‐ 2021)

Source: 2021 from USC; 2017‐2019 from Berkeley IGS Poll; 2014 to 2016 from The Field Poll.

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Morethan1in4low‐incomehouseholdsareunconnectedorunderconnected,incontrasttonearuniversaladoptionamonghigher‐incomehouseholds.

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9%

16%

2%

6%

10%

2%

85%

74%

96%

Total

Low‐Income**

Not Low‐Income


**Low‐income is defined as households with income lower than 200% of the Federal Poverty Line depending on number of household members.

Broadband Adoption by Income Status

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Overall,earliergainsinbroadbandadoptionamonglower‐incomehouseholdshaveslowed.

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Shareoflow‐incomehouseholdsonlyconnectingwithasmartphonecontinuestofall,butremainshighforthoseearninglessthan$20,000.

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23%

19%

9%

4%

2%

77%

81%

91%

96%

98%

Less than $20,000

$20,000‐$39,999

$40,000‐$59,999

$60,000‐$99,999

$100,000 or more

Yes No

"Was there ever a time when your household went without Internet access for one month or longer?"

Further,evenwhenconnected,manylower‐incomehouseholdsgowithoutInternetaccessforsignificantperiodsoftime.

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Affordabilityisthemainreasonthatkeepshouseholdsfromadoptingbroadband;digitalliteracyandlackofanappropriatedevicearealsorelevantfactors.

68%

55%

53%

50%

34%

26%

16%

Too expensive

Privacy/security concerns

Not comfortable usingPC/Internet

No computer

Not availablewhere I live

Can connect fromanother place

Smartphone is enough

All Reasons*

*Percentages add to more than 100% due to multiple responses

38%

11%

2%

14%

7%

5%

6%

Main Reason

Note: Subsample for unconnected and underconnected n=212 (unweighted)

Self‐Reported Reasons for Lack of Internet Connectivity at Home Among Unconnected and Underconnected

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Aware of low‐cost plans38%

Not aware of low‐cost plans62%

Applied24%

Did not apply76%


Nearly2in3unconnectedorsmartphone‐onlyhouseholdsareunawareofdiscountInternetplans,andfewerthan1in4ofthoseawarereporthavingeverapplied.

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Yes, Connect Outside the Home41%

No, Don't Connect Outside the Home

59%

61%

33%

33%

37%

22%

16%

1%

Home of family/friend

Work

Library

Store or café/restaurant

Other public building

School

Other

Where?


"Do you or do others in your household ever connect to the Internet outside your home?" (Among Unconnected or Underconnected Households)

Nearly40%ofunconnectedorunderconnected householdsusetheInternetoutsidethehome,includinginpubliclibrariesandotherpublicspaces.

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Householdswithschool‐agechildrencontinuetobemorelikelytobeconnected.

70%

75%

80%

85%

90%

95%

100%

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Child/Children in Household No Child/Children in Household


Broadband Adoption by Presence of School‐Age Children (2014 ‐ 2021)

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Theshareofhouseholdswithschool‐agechildrenrelyingonlyonasmartphoneforaccessisfallingmorerapidly,drivenbyschool‐issueddevices.

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Child/Children in Household No Child/Children in Household

Smartphone‐Only Households by Presence of School‐Age Children (2014‐21)


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Statewide Survey on Broadband Adoption 2021...1% 3% 85% 76% 92% 65% 91% 91% 89% Total Hispanic (Net) Hispanic (EnglishSpeaking) Hispanic (Spanish Speaking) White,Non‐Hispanic Black

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