A presentation by Jack M. Geller, Ph.D. from The EDA Center at the University of Minnesota-Crookston to the 2010 Blandin Broadband conference: Cultivating a Culture of Use 2010.

1. Addressing the Broadband Gap Jack M. Geller, Ph.D. The EDA Center at the University of Minnesota-Crookston Funding to the EDA Center supported by the Blandin Foundation Grant No. U2010-001

2. The Technology Adoption Curve

5. Computer, Internet and Broadband Adoption among MIRC Demonstration Communities Computer Internet Broadband Dial-up CommunityOwnershipConnectivityAdoptionAdoption Benton County 74.2% 70.6% 66.3% 4.3% Cook County 83.3% 74.8% 50.2% 24.6% Itasca County 72.9% 68.2% 63.3% 4.9% Kandiyohi Co. 74.0% 66.5% 64.0% 2.5% Leech Lake Band 66.9% 57.4% 48.8% 8.6% Stevens County 73.9% 68.1% 64.4% 3.7% Thief River Falls 71.1% 67.0% 59.4% 7.6% Windom 69.8% 66.4% 62.7% 3.7% Winona 80.2% 76.0% 69.2% 6.8% Worthington 61.3% 56.0% 53.9% 2.1% Upper MN Valley 67.5% 60.2% 57.6% 2.6% Rural Statewide 74.3% 70% 64% 6%

6. Computer & Internet Connectivity by Age

7. Computer & Internet Connectivity by Income

8. A Closer Look at the Digitally Distant Those who do not even have a computer!

9. Common Reasons why no Computer

10. Percent of Digitally Distant By Age

11. Other Characteristics of the Digitally Distant Percent that have a cell phone: 55.3% Percent that use cell to send text messages: 6.4% Percent that use cell for email 1.0% Percent that use cell to surf the Internet: 1.0% Percent that have a total telecom bill under $100 84.1% Percent in household of 2 or fewer members 91.4% Percent with school-aged children 6.1% Percent with high school education or less 63.0%

12. Observations Broadband is now the predominant method by which rural residents connect to the Internet. In 2001 6% of all rural Minnesota households had a broadband connection; but in 2010 only 6% still have a dial-up connection. With a few exceptions, the MIRC communities maintain adoption rates in line with the statewide averages. Stagnant growth in home computers will create a “ceiling” on broadband growth. The socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the digitally distant are greater barriers to the full adoption of broadband technology than geography or topography of rural Minnesota. Significant broadband growth will require intentional strategies to engage the digitally distant.