More research seems to be pointing to the importance of personal access to the Internet at home. A UCSC study, "The digital divide project" is the latest that crossed my desk:
Robert Fairlie, associate professor of economics at UCSC, and his research team included the following in their findings: "...20 million children in the United States, or 26 percent of children, have no computer access at home, which could contribute to the nation's persistent racial disparities in access to computer technology--the so-called "digital divide,".The team documented a 6 percent to 8 percent increase in the high school graduation rate of youth in homes with computers. Other positive impacts include a lower rate of school suspensions and overall higher grade-point averages among students in homes with computers.
The article includes a number of references to racial divides associated with broadband access that look much like the Pew Internet & American Life studies.
Whether it is socio-economic status, or cultural/racial attitudes, or education levels of the homes involved ...my insticts tell me that there will always be difference in acceptance and diffusion among different population segments. Is there more to this? Let's assume that broadband access reaches near saturation in american households...does that mean that graduation rates and grade point averages will increase across the board? Where does the actual use/application of the technology come into play? Where does the training come from (or is it needed) to move individuals quickly past newbie status?
This is still a technology chase...let no one fool you into thinking that the Digital Divide is one dimentional.