Cable Broadband Not Bypassing Poor Areas: NCTA

Poor urban areas aren't disproportionately falling outside cable ISPs' footprints when compared with middle-class and rich neighborhoods, NCTA said Wednesday in an analysis of FCC broadband mapping and Census Bureau data. It said 91% of urban households in low-income areas have access to 1 Gbps, compared with 94% of middle income households and 90% of upper income neighborhoods. It said cable gigabit service is available for 92% of areas with the highest percentage of black residents and 94% for Hispanic residents, while for neighborhoods with the lowest portion of black and Hispanic residents, the availability is 92% and 93%. NCTA said gaps in adoption are sizable based on income, with about half of households with family incomes below $30,000 subscribing to fixed residential broadband, while about 85% of households with family incomes exceeding $100,000 subscribe.