Fact Of The Day #94: Twenty Percent Of American Households Don't Have Internet Access (VIDEO)

Surprising Number Of U.S. Households Can't Read This At Home

Many of us think of the web as not only our constant companion, but a virtual necessity. But in fact, one in five American households has no ready Internet access.

71 percent of U.S. households were wired for the web in 2010, and another 9 percent of the population had ready access somewhere else, like a workplace or library. That left 20 percent without a connection.

Lack of access is more common among poorer and less educated Americans. 99 percent of households making $150,000 or more had Internet access, compared to only 57 percent of households making $15,000 or less.

Today's video makes clear how the Internet hasn't touched everyone just yet. Watch it, share it, then consider this question in the discussion thread below: should government money go to make broadband connections as common as phone or electricity hookups?

Face the Facts USA is a project of The George Washington University's School of Media and Public Affairs. Would you like the "Fact of the Day" beamed straight to your email inbox? Sign up here. For more fun stuff, follow them on Twitter @FaceFactsUSA, or like them on Facebook.

Before You Go

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot