The influence of economic background is notably negligible. There appears to be no greater disposition within any income category to use the Internet. This would seem to confirm the notion that people initially adopt the Internet as it servers current purposes and not based on inherent background characteristics.

However, while economic background is not a defining agent, other data shoes that financial considerations such as cost do have an effect on usage patterns. Using the Internet instead of the phone or letters or a fax machine is much cheaper since the user doesn't have to pay toll or postage charges. While owning a computer may be expensive, once access to one is established there is little subsequent cost in using it for Internet telecommunications. To this end, the University access equalizes the influence of cost as a usage barrier since for the students all the possible costs of using the Internet are eliminated. Additionally, the University offers access to computers which should eliminate the barriers associated with the cost of ownership.

One's background becomes a factor when one considers that communication via the Internet can only be had with people who have also made the investment in becoming connected. People in the $0-25000 range used the Internet least frequently of the income groups to keep in touch with relatives, most likely because their relatives are least likely to have been able to afford the necessary equipment. Here is a good example of how the University is limited in how it might equalize the influence of cost on prospective users in that it can only influence the immediate lives of the students but not their family and friends.

[NB: "KITW" = Keep In Touch With; "IO" = Instead Of]

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