NTIA data reveal shifts in technology use and persistent digital divide in the USA

The US National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) published the 15th edition of the Internet Use Survey conducted in November 2019 and providing an overview of Internet usage in the USA prior to  the COVID-19 pandemic. Results of the survey revealed a gap in bandwidth access and a persistent digital divide based on income levels, age group, and race, among other factors. Nearly four out of five US citizens were using the Internet by November 2019 and are increasingly using a larger and more varied range of devices. Yet, some demographic groups remained less likely to go online than their peers. For example, African Americans and Hispanics were 7% less likely to use the Internet, and Asian Americans were 4% less likely to do so, compared to Caucasians.