Many of us think of the web as not only our constant companion, but a virtual necessity. But in fact, one in five American households has no ready Internet access.
71 percent of U.S. households were wired for the web in 2010, and another 9 percent of the population had ready access somewhere else, like a workplace or library. That left 20 percent without a connection.
Lack of access is more common among poorer and less educated Americans. 99 percent of households making $150,000 or more had Internet access, compared to only 57 percent of households making $15,000 or less.
Today’s video makes clear how the Internet hasn’t touched everyone just yet. Watch it, share it, then consider this question in the discussion thread below: should government money go to make broadband connections as common as phone or electricity hookups?
