The statistics don't show how many of those households have school-age children but estimate that about 12 percent of people younger than 18 in the region lack a computer with Internet access. That's slightly better than the rates for the state (15 percent) and the United States (19 percent).
The numbers show that 12 percent of Allegheny County children lack a computer with Internet access.
“It's surprisingly low,” said Jon Amelio, chief technology officer for the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. “We still have room to improve. ... I would have thought it was 20 to 25 percent.”
The Allegheny Intermediate Unit provides training and support for all 42 suburban school districts in the county as well as Internet access. About 70 to 80 percent of the teachers in those districts incorporate the Internet into their lessons or homework, Amelio said.
The figures come from the Census' American Community Survey, which annually measures household income, education levels, commuting times and several other demographics. This is the first year the survey has provided local numbers on computer use and Internet access.
The survey's definition of a computer encompasses desktop computers, laptops, notebooks, smartphones and tablets. The Internet numbers include both dial-up and broadband services.
An increasing number of school districts are using the Internet to keep parents up to date on their children's progress at school, another advantage that home access provides, Amelio said.
“It certainly would be great to have matching Internet connectivity at home,” he said.
The lack of home Internet access is an important issue for low-income communities, but it takes on critical importance for students, said Bill Bartlett, regional director for Action United, a nonprofit that helps needy families.
“If you're not plugged in, and you're in the younger generation, you're being left out,” he said.
©2014 The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Greensburg, Pa.)
