The Profound Impact of the Early Internet on American Life
The Profound Impact of the Early Internet on American Life
For nearly two decades, the Fiber Broadband Association and RVA LLC have tracked how broadband has transformed everyday life in the United States. This longitudinal consumer study shows that internet use is now nearly universal, with almost 80 percent of adults rating high quality connectivity as “very important” to their household. The report documents dramatic growth in online applications across commerce, education, healthcare, entertainment, and security, along with steep increases in data consumption and measured speeds over time. Charts throughout the study highlight how fiber is gaining market share where available, delivering higher satisfaction on speed and reliability, and enabling new patterns of remote work, home-based entrepreneurship, and telehealth that improve quality of life and expand economic opportunity.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is this study?
This study is a synthesis of annual Fiber Broadband Association / RVA Broadband Consumer Studies conducted since 2007, examining how internet use, attitudes, and outcomes have evolved across U.S. households.
2. What time period does the research cover?
The analysis spans roughly three decades of internet adoption, with detailed consumer data from 2005 onward and annual tracking from 2007 through 2025, supported by trend lines and forecast charts.
3. What are some of the most significant findings?
The research shows near-universal internet adoption, rapidly growing data usage, and strong consumer dependence on high-quality connectivity for work, education, healthcare, entertainment, and everyday transactions, with particularly strong life-impact indicators among low-income urban users.
4. How does the study highlight the role of fiber broadband?
Comparative performance charts demonstrate that fiber leads on download and upload speeds, perceived quality, and Net Promoter Scores, and that it is gaining market share wherever it is available as consumers prioritize speed, reliability, and low latency.
5. Who should use this research, and how?
Policymakers, service providers, community leaders, and investors can use these insights to prioritize fiber-based infrastructure, design programs that close remaining gaps in access and adoption, and plan for future applications such as advanced telehealth, aging-in-place, and immersive digital services.