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   From: gregpcarr@yahoo.ca   
      
   Canadian Internet Use Survey   
      
   Statscan - Canadians are making greater and more diverse use of the   
   Internet, but a digital divide persists among various groups,   
   according to new data for 2007 from the Canadian Internet Use Survey.   
      
   Almost three-quarters (73%), or 19.2 million Canadians aged 16 and   
   older, went online for personal reasons during the 12 months prior to   
   the survey. This was up from just over two-thirds (68%) in 2005 when   
   the survey was last conducted.   
      
   For the first time, the survey covered young people aged 16 and 17.   
   They accounted for almost one of the five percentage point increase in   
   Internet use between 2005 and 2007.   
      
   Survey results showed that the digital divide, or gap in the rate of   
   Internet use, still existed among certain groups of Canadians on the   
   basis of income, education and age.   
      
   The survey also showed that people living in urban areas continued to   
   be more likely to have used the Internet than those from smaller towns   
   and rural areas. Only 65% of residents living in small towns or rural   
   areas accessed the Internet, well below the national average, while   
   just over three-quarters (76%) of urban residents did so. Both   
   proportions were higher than in 2005.   
      
   Among people who used the Internet at home, 68% went online every day   
   during a typical month and 50% for five hours or more during a typical   
   week. On average, men were online more often and for longer periods   
   than women.   
      
   Digital divides in Internet use persist   
      
   Findings reveal gaps in the rate of Internet use among certain groups   
   of Canadians, specifically on the basis of income, education and age.   
      
   Households were divided into five equal groups, or quintiles, based on   
   income.   
      
   The vast majority (91%) of people in the top quintile (more than   
   $95,000) used the Internet. This was almost twice the proportion of   
   47% for the lowest quintile (less than $24,000). This gap in use has   
   narrowed slightly since 2005.   
      
   In terms of education, 84% of individuals with at least some   
   post-secondary education used the Internet in 2007, compared with 58%   
   of those who had less education. Again, this gap has narrowed slightly   
   since 2005.   
      
   Age remained an important factor. In 2007, 96% of persons aged 16 to   
   24 went online, more than three times the 29% among seniors aged 65   
   and older. However, Internet use increased among all age groups since   
   2005.   
      
   The proportion of men and women using the Internet during 2007 was   
   just below three-quarters for both.   
      
   Among people born in Canada, 75% used the Internet, compared with 66%   
   of those born elsewhere. However, the rate was 78% among immigrants   
   who arrived in Canada during the last 10 years. Most of these recent   
   immigrants live in urban areas.   
      
   High-speed connections more popular   
      
   The vast majority of Internet users aged 16 or older, 94%, reported   
   personal Internet use from home during 2007, while 41% said they used   
   it from work, 20% from schools and 15% from libraries.   
      
   High-speed connections are becoming far more prevalent. An estimated   
   88% of people who accessed the Internet at home did so with a   
   high-speed connection in 2007, up from 80% two years earlier. This   
   growth was driven by new users and by existing users switching from a   
   slower service.   
      
   Over 9 in 10 urban home users reported using a high-speed connection,   
   compared with just over 7 in 10 home users in rural areas. More than   
   one-half of rural and small town residents using a slower service   
   reported that a high-speed telephone or cable service was not   
   available in their area.   
      
   Growing online activities: blogging, chatting, downloading   
      
   E-mail and general browsing continued to be the most popular online   
   activities from home. The web remained popular for finding government   
   or health information and making travel arrangements. And many   
   Canadians also used it for banking, paying bills and ordering goods or   
   services.   
      
   However, survey data show that more Canadians are participating in   
   additional activities.   
      
   For example, one-fifth (20%) of home Internet users reported   
   contributing content by posting images, writing blogs, or   
   participating in discussion groups.   
      
   (Greg- Yeah Us!) these people, over one-half were under the age of 30.   
      
   Some 50% of home Internet users used an instant messenger during 2007.   
   Again, relatively more young Canadians reported going online for this   
   reason.   
      
   The increased use of broadband has also meant a rise in downloading or   
   watching movies or television, and downloading music.   
      
   Concerns about online privacy and security   
      
   In 2007, the survey estimated that approximately 50% of Canadians   
   (Internet users or not) were very concerned about online credit card   
   use, 44% about online banking transactions and 37% about online   
   privacy.   
      
   While all three estimates are below 2005 levels, they do not   
   necessarily indicate that online privacy and security threats have   
   declined. Other factors may be at work.   
      
   For instance, the 2007 survey included individuals aged 16 and 17 who,   
   on average, expressed lower levels of concern. Canadians have also   
   become more experienced online, with 54% reporting five or more years   
   of Internet use in 2007, up from 45% in 2005.   
      
   Survey data show that the proportion very concerned about security was   
   lower for people who had used the Internet longer and for more   
   activities.   
      
   The provinces: Rates highest in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario   
      
   Rates of Internet use among Canadians increased in every province   
   between 2005 and 2007. Rates were above the national average of 73% in   
   three provinces: British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.   
      
   Rates in the two western provinces were boosted by high usage in major   
   census metropolitan areas. In Calgary, 85% of people aged 16 and older   
   used the Internet, as did 83% in Victoria, and 78% in both Vancouver   
   and Edmonton.   
      
   Urban-rural differences in Internet use persisted during 2007. In   
   Quebec for example, rates ranged from 58% in small towns and rural   
   areas to 78% in Quebec City.   
      
   In general, cities have younger populations and proportionately more   
   residents with higher levels of income and education. These   
   concentrations of population are attractive markets for Internet   
   service providers.   
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   Kiddie porn agreement will delete large portions of Usernet from ISPs'   
   servers   
      
   Per a recent child-porn blocking agreement with the New York Attorney   
   General’s Office, Verizon announced Thursday that it will block   
      
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