Executive Summary: July 2009

Tennessee's Technology Trends 2009 was conducted in July 2009 and involved 1,200 households and more than 800 businesses. One notable highlight - more than one-half (55%) of all Tennessee adults have broadband service at home, which translates into more than 2.5 million Tennessee adults. Over the past two years, broadband adoption in Tennessee has grown by 28%, with significant growth among minorities, rural residents, older adults and other groups who often have lower-than-average broadband adoption rates.

Residential Survey

• More than three out of four Tennessee adults (76%) reported that they have a computer at home. This translates into more than 3.5 million Tennessee adults with home computers, a 7% growth since July 2007.
• Nearly one-half (48%) of laptop computer owners access the Internet via wireless hotspots. Since July 2008, Tennessee has experienced a 21% increase in mobile Internet use.
• The average download speed among Tennessee residents is 4.4 Mbps. Only 5% of broadband subscribers report being dissatisfied with their current broadband speeds

 

Business Survey

• Nearly two-thirds of Tennessee businesses (65%, or approximately 87,000 Tennessee businesses) now subscribe to broadband, compared to just 55% in 2007. The biggest increase has been among small business in Tennessee.
• While 13% of employed Tennessee adults currently telework, 31% say they would telework if given the opportunity.
• The average download speed among Tennessee businesses is 4.1 Mbps

 

Executive Summary: January 2009

Tennessee's Technology Trends 2009 was conducted in January 2009 and involved 1,200 households and more than 800 businesses. One notable highlight - broadband adoption in Tennessee went from 43% to 54%, an increase of nearly 26%, from the time of Connected Tennessee's inception to date. That is in comparison to a national growth of only 16% during a comparable time period.

Residential Survey

• Computer ownership in Tennessee increased by 7% since the inception of Connected Tennessee in July 2007, compared to an estimated national growth of 3%.  In Tennessee, 76% of residents say they own home computers, which is above the national average of 75% of American adults who say they use a computer.
• Statewide, 84% of all Tennessee residents said they use the Internet from home or some other place, compared to the national average of just 74%.
  
• Home broadband adoption has grown by 26% in Tennessee since July 2007, compared to an estimated national growth of just 15%.  In the past 18 months, Tennessee has cut the gap between its broadband adoption rate and the national average by more than one-half, reducing it from a seven point gap in July 2007 to a three point gap now.
  
  

Business Survey

• Computer use among Tennessee businesses grew 5% since July 2007, with the fastest growth in the Retail/Recreation/Food/Lodging industry sector.
• Small- and medium-sized businesses (those with 5 to 49 employees) realized significant gains in Internet use since July 2007.
• Broadband adoption among Tennessee businesses grew 22% since July 2007; businesses of every size, from the smallest home business to the largest corporation, reported using broadband more frequently.
• Download speeds among broadband-connected small businesses in Tennessee have more than doubled since July 2007.
• Small rural businesses realized a 33% increase in their median annual revenues, while rural businesses without broadband experienced a 33% decrease during the same time period.
• One-fifth (20%) of businesses with fewer than five employees allow their workers to telework.  Statewide, 19% of Tennessee businesses allow their employees to telework.
• Businesses that use broadband service reported having median annual revenues more than double those of businesses that do not use broadband.