This paper presents three case studies in the state of South Carolina, and the cities of Chicago, IL, and Los Angeles, CA, with in-depth analyses of wireline and wireless access in high minority, low-income communities. The findings of the study concluded that broadband service is becoming much more ubiquitous in high minority, low-income communities, yet levels of adoption still remain relatively low. The study also concluded that race is not a significant explanatory variable for disparate broadband deployment, and despite the availability of mobile broadband in low-income, high minority areas, wireless coverage is still inconsistent within regions.

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During the last decade, technology has changed significantly and the diffusion of various forms of technology throughout the United States has been widespread, but uneven. Measuring the Divide examines the "digital divide" and several of the major factors that affect Internet use across and within racial groups, especially among African Americans. It also looks at how those who do have Internet connections use the Internet, as a way of informing how efforts might be made to make the Internet more engaging (as well as more accessible) to African Americans. Finally, it concludes with a discussion of broadband and the implications of its potential diffusion, particularly for health care, minority businesses, and African American communities. An appendix presents information on the characteristics of the African American population that affect Internet use in ten states and the District of Columbia.

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Date Published: March 2006