The Pew Internet Project looked at how widespread broadband Internet is among Americans today and found out that there is a large portion of those with low-income who favor their existing dialup connections and don't want and don't need a faster uplink.

While overall broadband adoption increased, among low-income Americans and minorities such as African Americans, the percentage of users who enjoy broadband Internet has actually dropped. This is another reminder about the tragic social divisions which have been enhanced by the recent economic slump.

Already, the United States trails a significant number of developed states in broadband speed. A study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found that the U.S. ranks at spot no. 15 among 30 tested countries for average broadband speed.

Pew found out that 27 percent of Americans do not have any form of Internet access, most of whom are reluctant to pay an average monthly broadband bill of $34.50 or an average dial-up bill of $19.70. Overall, 55 percent of American adults now have broadband access at home, up from 47 percent a year earlier.

The Pew Internet Project is part of the Pew Research Center, a Washington, D.C. "fact tank" funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts which does not get involved in advocacy, but rather conducts studies and surveys on various trends in the U.S. and abroad. The Pew Charitable Trusts was founded in 1948, by the adult children of Sun Oil Company founder Joseph N. Pew and his wife, Mary Anderson Pew, with the mission to serve the public interest by "improving public policy, informing the public, and stimulating civic life."