If they can't afford broadband access it's doubtful they have a computer. Or a computer capable of broadband access. DOH!

California Leads U.S. In Broadband, But Poor Still Lack Access

A task force report found that 1.4 million state residents are without any broadband access at all.

A state-of-the-art study of California's broadband status -- current and projected -- found that California leads the nation in providing broadband for its citizens, but the digital divide between well-off and not-so-well-off still exists.

In releasing its 83-page report Thursday, the California Broadband Task Force (CBTF) reported that barely half of Californians are using broadband at home and, in addition, that 42% of low-income families do not even have computers at home compared with higher income families of which just 9% lack computers.

As expected, urban areas are well-supplied with broadband services while rural areas are not. The CBTF found that 1.4 million state residents are without any broadband access at all. The northern Sierra Mountain area offers broadband in less than 60% of the region.

Very high speed broadband -- 10 Mbps -- is available to about one-half of Californians, most of it in urban areas; generally, the most robust broadband is provided in Southern California around Los Angeles and Orange County. Broadband is available for 99% of San Francisco Bay Area households and 98% of Los Angeles households.

The CBTF suggested several actions aimed at spreading more robust broadband throughout the state ranging from easing permitting standards to encouraging collaboration among providers to creating a statewide online health network to simultaneously improve health care and boost broadband access. The CBTF also suggested that improved e-education efforts would likely help spread broadband access throughout the state.

While California could boast it leads the U.S. in broadband access, the state still lags when compared to other countries. It would rank 10th internationally.

The report was hailed by major broadband providers AT&T (NYSE: T) and Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), which each had a representative on the task force. AT&T said it is especially pleased that the CBTF recommended the development of a new permitting standard for broadband. Noting that it is building a national fiber optic network, Verizon said the country needs bold leadership in both the public and private sectors to compete effectively on a global basis.