FACT SHEET: Hispanics Falling Back in Information Age

FALLING THROUGH THE NET: DEFINING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE, November 1999

This report on the telecommunications and information technology gap in America provides comprehensive data on the level of access by Americans to telephones, computers, and the Internet. It includes valuable information about where Americans are gaining access, what they are doing with their online connections, and provides trendline information since 1984.

According to the report, the number of Americans accessing the Internet has grown rapidly in the last year; yet, in the midst of this general expansion, the "digital divide" between information "haves" and "have nots" still continues to widen.

Overview:

Race or ethnic origin are significant determinants in whether a household is connected. While Hispanic households are far more likely to own computers and have Internet access this year over last, they still lag behind the national average in access to new technologies.

Hispanic households also continue to lag behind the national average in telephone penetration. The difference is most pronounced in rural areas. This year, however, Hispanic households earning more than $75,000 are almost as likely to own phones as comparable White households.

Highlights:

• Hispanic households were over twice as likely to own computers at the end of 1998 as they were in 1994.
• Nevertheless, Hispanic households are still roughly half as likely to own a computer as White households and nearly 2.5 times less likely to use the Internet. In fact, Hispanics are less likely to have access from any location (home, school, work, or library) than Whites are from home.
• The gap in access to new technologies between White and Hispanic households has grown significantly. Between 1997 and 1998, the White/Hispanic gap for Internet access widened by 37.6% (approximately 5 percentage points).
• For computer ownership, the gap between White and Hispanic Households continues to widen: from 1994 to 1998 the White/Hispanic gap increased 42.6%. Even at the highest level of incomes ($75,000+), Hispanic households are losing ground: between 1994 and 1998, the gap rose 4.9 percentage points.

Significant Findings:

In an information rich society, Hispanics are at a significant disadvantage because they experience lower levels of computer and Internet connectivity. On the other hand, they are using public access points, such as K-12 schools, for Internet access. Thus, policymakers must continue to promote policies to expand the number of community access centers and to reduce the price of new technologies.

        Note:   Press Contact:                          For Report Details, contact:
                Mary Hanley, (202) 482-2075             Kelly Levy, (202) 482-1880
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