Percentage of households in Georgia with broadband internet subscriptions, 2017
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Increasingly, having access to high-speed broadband is a necessity
for families and businesses looking to strive in the modern world. While many families depend on cellphones, broadband internet is important to access more complicated services that involve longer forms and more complex information.
New information from the U.S. Census Bureau finds that the
percentage of households in Georgia with access a broadband internet subscription
varies widely with metro counties and more affluent counties showing far higher
rates than more rural counties and counties with lower income households in
Georgia.
Of the 159 counties in Georgia, 17 counties show household broadband internet subscription rates below 50%, while only 55 of the
159 counties showed rates above 70%.
Forsyth and Cherokee counties both recorded household
broadband internet subscription rates above 90%. At the other end of the
spectrum, Telfair and Wheeler counties recorded household broadband internet subscription
rates of less than 25%.
At 24.9%, Telfair County has recorded the nation's lowest broadband subscription rate for counties with a population of more than 10,000 or more.
At 24.9%, Telfair County has recorded the nation's lowest broadband subscription rate for counties with a population of more than 10,000 or more.
The 2013-2017
American Community Survey (ACS) estimates that nationally, 78%
of households subscribe to the internet, but households in both rural and
lower-income counties trail the national average by 13 points.
The Census Bureau defines broadband internet
subscriptions as any service that is capable of delivering faster speeds than
“dial up” — no longer used by most, but still used by less than 1 percent of
households nationally.
Households without broadband internet connections are
less able to fully participate in American society, whether that means reaching
educational sources or conducting job searches.
Access to a broadband internet connection is becoming
crucial, not only to access information but to interact with government
agencies, as government agencies are requiring citizens to access their
services via websites that are replacing local offices as the primary source of
information and support.
As governments look to cut costs, they are looking to websites to provide services.
As governments look to cut costs, they are looking to websites to provide services.
In Georgia, this includes services to lower income
families including applying for Medical Assistance, Food Stamps (Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program-SNAP), PeachCare for Kids, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
(TANF).
All of these services are accessed through the online Georgia Gateway, the home of Georgia's eligibility determination system for a number of social benefit programs.
With the Georgia General Assembly planning to focus on rural issues in their upcoming 2019 session, hopefully broadband internet access will be one of their top topics next year.
All of these services are accessed through the online Georgia Gateway, the home of Georgia's eligibility determination system for a number of social benefit programs.
With the Georgia General Assembly planning to focus on rural issues in their upcoming 2019 session, hopefully broadband internet access will be one of their top topics next year.
