February 14, 2002

Internet Access Jumps 83 percent in North Dakota

As estimated by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the U.S. Census Bureau using the August 2000 Current Population Survey, 47.5 percent of North Dakota households had computers in 2000 according to the latest Economic Brief released by the North Dakota State Data Center at North Dakota State University. This percentage was up from 40.2 percent in 1998 and 33.0 percent in 1997. Nationally, more than half of all households (51.0 percent) had computers in 2000, up from 42.1 percent in 1998 and 36.6 percent in 1997.

The share of North Dakota households with Internet access soared by 83 percent, increasing from 20.6 percent in 1998 to 37.7 percent in 2000. "This is one indicator of our rapid movement into the new information age," said Richard Rathge, director of the North Dakota State Data Center. "It is difficult to appreciate how rapidly we are adapting this new form of technology and the power and prospects it offers for economic development, the delivery of health, education, and social services, and a host of other things." Nationally, the proportion of households with Internet access rose 58%, rising from 26.2 percent in 1998 to 41.5 percent in 2000.

For information on the survey source, accuracy, and methodology, go to the following Web site: http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/computer/computer.htm

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Source: Richard Rathge, (701) 231-8621, richard_rathge@ndsu.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu

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