Telecommunications: Characteristics and Choices of Internet Users (Letter
Report, 02/16/2001, GAO/GAO-01-345).

Americans' use of the Internet has grown dramatically in the past few
years. Nationally, more than half of all households have a computer and
over 80 percent of those households have access to the Internet. Yet,
during the past few years, even as Internet usage has continued to
expand, concerns have arisen about whether access to the Internet and
other advanced telecommunications services is limited for Americans in
lower socioeconomic classes or who live in rural areas. GAO found that
Internet users are more likely to be white and well-educated and have
higher-than-average household incomes. There is no noticeable difference
between the genders when it comes to Internet usage. GAO also found that
the availability of some services is limited by location. Some of this
information points to the existence of the "digital divide," but the
evidence is not clear. It is important, however, to ensure that the
differences in Internet availability do not have an adverse effect on
existing societal divisions.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  GAO-01-345
     TITLE:  Telecommunications: Characteristics and Choices of
	     Internet Users
      DATE:  02/16/2001
   SUBJECT:  Internet service providers
	     Surveys
	     Population statistics
	     Internet
IDENTIFIER:  Internet