• The likelihood of home-based Internet access shows similar overall patterns:
  
  
  • Income far outweighs age, gender, location and education as the most significant predictor of which households will have Internet access.
  • Location increased in importance as a significant predictor in 2000 for home access.

Cost is still the most significant barrier to access, particularly in lower income households.

• As described in the Dual Digital Divide (PIAC, 2000), lack of interest and perceived lack of need are the other important factors for not having home access. Literacy is also an important factor.

Detailed sub-group analysis

Generational differences:

• Cost remains the most important barrier to access for youth (59 per cent in 2000).
• Cost concerns decrease with age.
• Technical literacy, perceived lack of need and lack of interest were the main barriers and disincentives to Internet access for seniors.

Gender:

• Cost is a greater barrier to women than to men for home Internet access.
• Men are more likely to identify lack of need as the main barrier to home access.