• by March 1, 2006

The digital divide is beginning to narrow--the divide between rural and urban dwellers in terms of high-speed Internet use, that is.

According to a new survey conducted by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, the use of high-speed Internet services is beginning to take off. Pew reports that as of last fall, 24 percent of rural Americans had broadband Internet service at home, more than double the 9 percent rate reported in 2003. In contrast, 39 percent of urban and suburban dwellers had broadband last fall, up from 22 percent in 2003.

Pew cites the increased availability of broadband service in rural areas as the reason for the enhanced use. Rural broadband customers tend to be older, less affluent and educated than suburban and urban customers.

Pew reports that 62 percent of rural residents use the Internet, compared with 70 percent elsewhere. The figure includes use of dial-up service and Internet access at work. Country mice are also a bit more likely, Pew finds, to participate in online education and to download games. But they're less interested in banking online and buying travel services.

Pew surveyed 5,262 U.S. adults in September and December of 2005 last year. The margin of sampling error was 3 percentage points in either direction.