In the United States, of the almost half (47 per cent) of the population without home access, the majority tend to be low income households or seniors. As with Canada, cost, technical skills and a lack of perceived benefit or need are the main reasons why people do not have access.²¹ Calling for greater action by the federal government to provide training and access, researchers in the United States conclude that the Internet boom is expected to slow down due to cost obstacles and a lack of interest. For example, over half of non-users (57 per cent) are not interested in being on-line, and one in three non-users (32 per cent) have indicated that they will definitely not get access.²²

There are several regulatory initiatives in the United States intended to increase telephone and Internet access. For example, basic telephone costs, a barrier to many in addition to the costs of computers and the Internet, are reduced for many Americans through various lifeline and link up programs. Canada does not yet have a comparable telephone access regulatory initiative (with the exception of high-cost serving areas). Stemming from the United States Telecommunications Act (1996), an E-rate was introduced to provide universal Internet service for schools, libraries and communities. This program was budgeted for the current year at US$ 2.25 billion. Canada does not yet have this type of regulation-based program, though it does provide assistance to public institutions through federal and provincial fiscal programs.

²¹ Disconnected, Disadvantaged, Disenfranchised, M. Cooper, Consumers Federation of America, October 11, 2000; Gartner's Digital Divide Report, October 2, 2000.
²² "Who's not on-line", A. Lenhard, Pew Internet and American Life Project, September 21, 2000.