Unraveling Different Barriers to Internet Use

Abstract

While current federal programs for broadband have invested heavily in rural infrastructure, significant disparities in Internet use remain in urban areas, where broadband networks are available. The success of the national broadband plan and federal policy require understanding barriers to Internet adoption, including persistent inequalities in urban areas. Analysis of a random sample telephone survey in the city of Chicago merged with census tract–level data finds that neighborhood-level factors such as segregation and concentrated poverty influence the reasons why residents do not have home Internet access, as well as individual-level factors. Interactions demonstrate differential effects of age across racial and ethnic groups, and the amplification of disparities in access in segregated neighborhoods, especially for Latinos in gateway immigrant neighborhoods. Place effects need to be taken into account in further research and theory on technology inequality, and in public policy as well.