Many Remain on the Sidelines
of the Digital Revolution
Wheat State Telephone • 800-442-6835 •
E
xploring the Digital Nation,” a Commerce Department report released in the summer
of 2013, says nearly 98 percent of American homes now have some form of high-speed
broadband available to them. But not everyone takes advantage of this access. Tens of
millions of people are still on the sidelines of the digital revolution. In fact, roughly 20
percent of American adults do not use the Internet at all—not at home, work, or by
mobile device.
This means a significant portion of the population, around 60 million people, may be
shut off from opportunities for jobs, government services, health care, and education.
(An increasing number of employers, for example, no longer accept offline job applica-
tions.) Persistent digital inequality—caused by the inability to afford Internet service,
lack of interest, or a lack of computer literacy—is also deepening racial and economic
disparities in the United States.
According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, the percentage of people 18 years
and older in the United States who have adopted the Internet over the past two decades
has grown from 14 percent in 1995 to the most recent figures of between 81 percent and
85 percent. However, low adoption rates among older people remain a major hurdle.
Only slightly more than half of Americans 65 and older use the Internet, compared with
well over three-quarters of those under 65.
Wheat State Telephone offers very affordable Internet plans plus technical assis-
tance to help new users get started. To learn more, visit
or call 800-442-6835.
Fun Turkey Facts
At your Thanksgiving feast this year,
you can wow your family with these
fun facts about the main course:
• Ben Franklin wanted the turkey to
be named the official United
States bird.
• Wild turkeys can run as fast as 20
miles per hour. And they can fly at
speeds up to 55 miles per hour—
but only for short distances.
• Every Thanksgiving, Americans eat
about 675 million pounds of turkey,
with the average holiday turkey
weighing about 15 pounds.
• Turkeys can see movement almost
a hundred yards away.
• Male turkeys gobble, while females
make a clicking noise.
• They can see in color, but don’t
have good night vision.
• They typically have 3,500 feathers
when they reach full maturity.
• Most wild turkeys live in hardwood
forests with grassy areas.
If you can’t be with your loved ones to
enjoy your turkey together this holiday,
then you’ll want to give them a call.
Wheat State Telephone makes it easy
with our affordable long distance. For
details, call us at 800-442-6835.
“
Roughly
20%
of
American adults do not
use the Internet at all.
