2010 Minnesota Internet Survey - Looking at the growth of broadband access and use for clues to what’s next

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Margaret

2010 Minnesota Internet Survey examines how broadband access and use are growing across the state and what the pattern suggests for the future. The report highlights a persistent rural digital divide: broadband availability varies widely, and some households cannot access or afford the speeds needed for more complex online activities. It summarizes adoption rates for computers, Internet, and broadband, compares Greater Minnesota with the Twin Cities, and identifies income and age as key indicators. Results are based on statewide telephone interviews collected from March to July 2010.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Major findings

Adoption trends

Activities and usage

Indicators of access

Methodology

Geography definitions

Data collection and weighting

A PDF of this report can be downloaded from the Center’s web site at [www.ruralmn.org](www.ruralmn.org). © 2010 Center for Rural Policy and Development CENTER for RURAL POLICY and DEVELOPMENT October 2010 2010 Minnesota Internet Survey Looking at the growth of broadband access and use for clues to what’s next Introduction It is probably safe to say that nothing has hit the world quite like the Internet. In its ability to change our day-to-day lives and society itself, it is unprecedented. In the ten years since the Center for Rural Policy and Development began its survey of broadband adoption in Minnesota, the growth of broadband use —and its necessity —has been nothing short of remarkable. In the Center’s first, very short survey conducted in 2001 of just households in the 80 counties outside the Twin Cities, we found that 60% of rural Minnesota households had home computers, 40% were connected to the Internet and just 6.2% had broadband. At that time, the availability of broadband was quite limited, even in the Twin Cities. Since 2001, its availability has spread steadily, and its adoption has risen accordingly statewide. But while the story of broadband tends to center on its phenomenal growth, we find that in rural areas access is still inconsistent. Both private and public entities have endeavored to build out an adequate broadband infrastructure across the state, but today, while residents of virtually every city in the state have access to broadband, there are still many pockets in rural areas where broadband is not available, and in rural communities that do have access, not everyone has access to or can afford the speed necessary to do the more complex activities that are emerging every day on the Internet. To get a little closer look at the question of rural access, the researchers this year divided the state’s counties into three groups: the seven-county Twin Cities group; the Metropolitan or Micropolitan Statistical Areas counties group; and the Rural counties group (these definitions are explained further in the Methodologies section) . The results of the survey show a significant divide still exists in several ways. Major findings • Statewide, availability continues to spread: 76.8% of households report having computers, 73.5%(95.7% of those with computers) are connected to the Internet, and 69.5% of households (94.3% of households with Internet) are accessing the Internet via The Center for Rural Policy and Development, based in St. Peter, Minn., is a private, not-for-profit policy research organization dedicated to benefiting Minnesota by providing its policy makers with an unbiased evaluation of issues from a rural perspective. broadband. Computer and Internet adoption are up slightly from the last survey, taken in December 2007 and January 2008, when adoption rates were 75.9% for computers and 71.5% for Internet. Broadband adoption is up sharply, nearly 12 percentage points from 57.8% in 2007-08. • In Greater Minnesota, computer, Internet and broadband adoption continue to grow and are catching up with the Twin Cities. Computer ownership went from 73.0% in 2007-08 to 75 .5%, while Internet connections have gone from 68.2% in 2007-08 to 71.2% in 2010. Broadband adoption grew from 52.3% to 65.4% . • A high percentage of Minnesota households with Internet continue to engage in the most popular activities. Email is universal, but close behind are shopping, checking the news and banking. Other activities are also growing in use, such as doing work for an employer, communicating with a child’s school, or contacting a legislator or doctor. Greater Minnesota still lags behind the Twin Cities in many activities. • Income and age continue to be significant indicators of whether a household will have a computer, Internet or broadband. Older and lowerincome groups still tend to be behind in adopting these technologies, but they show steady growth. • Within Greater Minnesota, counties w

FAQs

What is the main focus of the 2010 Minnesota Internet Survey?

The survey focuses on broadband access and use growth in Minnesota, using adoption patterns to suggest what may come next.

How does the report describe broadband access in rural Minnesota?

Rural access is inconsistent: many rural pockets lack broadband availability, and in communities that have access, not everyone can afford or receive speeds needed for advanced activities.

What survey method was used to collect the data?

Data were collected via telephone interviews from March to July 2010 statewide, using random-digit dialing, with responses weighted using U.S. Census age and population share.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Margaret