Over 80 Percent of U.S. Households Get an Internet Service at Home

DURHAM, NH — Eighty-three percent of US households get an Internet service at home, compared to 82 percent in 2010 and 69 percent in 2006, according to new consumer research from Leichtman Research Group (LRG). Broadband accounts for 97 percent of households with Internet service at home, and 81 percent of all households get a broadband Internet service — an increase from 74 percent in 2010, and 42 percent in 2006.

Those who do not get an Internet service at home tend to be older (36 percent of ages 65+ are not online at home), and lower income (40 percent with annual household incomes less than $30,000 are not online at home). Yet, possibly the most common characteristic of those not online at home is that 60 percent do not use a laptop or desktop computer at home.

Consistent with the profile of those not online at home, the most common reason for not getting an Internet service at home is a lack of need (cited by 50 percent). This reason far exceeds those who mention cost (17 percent), availability (8 percent), or access to the Internet on a smartphone (8 percent) as a reason not to subscribe to an Internet service at home.

These findings are based on a telephone survey of 1,208 households from throughout the United States and are part of a new LRG study, "Broadband Access & Services in the Home 2016." This is LRG's fourteenth annual study on this topic.

Other related findings include:

• 86 percent of households use at least one laptop or desktop computer — 92 percent of this group get an Internet service at home


• About 5 percent of all households have an iPad or tablet, but do not use a laptop or desktop computer — up from 1 percent in 2013


• Overall, 66 percent get both an Internet service at home and on a smartphone — up from 42 percent in 2012


• 6 percent overall access the Internet on a smartphone, but do not get an Internet service at home — compared to 2 percent in 2012


• 41 percent with an Internet service at home watch online video daily — compared to 17 percent in 2011, and 5 percent in 2006


• 90 percent with annual household Incomes greater than $50,000 get broadband at home — compared to 71 percent with annual household incomes less than $50,000

"While higher-income households are most likely to subscribe to a broadband service, disparities in computer ownership and computer literacy remain at the root of the broadband divide in the US," said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group. "A lack of need is still the most common reason for not getting an Internet service at home, rather than cost or the ability to get the Internet on a smartphone."