Broadband and the User II

The objective and research questions are closely aligned with the first Broadband and the User study from 2001. It is well known that the adoption of a (new) technology is not only determined by the availability of the technology but also by the acceptance and usage of the technology by (potential) users. Now that broadband technology has largely emerged, it is important to focus on the user. This research - with internet users at its core - has three purposes. Firstly, we aim to understand the differences in internet usage between users with broadband and narrowband connections. Secondly, we want to track developments over time in internet usage for different target groups. This will be done by comparing results from this study with those from the previous broadband research. Lastly, we seek to uncover the motivations of different target groups for using the internet. The following research questions align with these objectives: 1. What differences exist in the use of specific Information, Communication, Entertainment, and Transaction (ICET) applications on the internet between broadband and narrowband users (and other groups such as women, youth, and families)? 2. What changes have occurred in internet access and usage between broadband and narrowband users since the previous assessment? 3. What motivates users to use (broadband) internet, particularly regarding needs such as healthcare, safety, contact, personal development, education, entertainment, and fulfillment? Due to the possibility of making time comparisons in this follow-up study, the analysis goes beyond what was feasible with the baseline measurement in 2001. An important derivative question is to what extent the behavior of innovators is actually followed by early adopters and the (early) majority. In other words, to what extent does the usage of early adopters predict the usage by the majority of users. To answer this latter question, the research will need to be repeated in the coming years.