[NINCH Logo]

ninch-announce: MCI Study: Alternative Public Internet Access Points

ninch-announce: MCI Study: Alternative Public Internet Access Points

MCI Study: Alternative Public Internet Access Points

David Green (david@cni.org)
Fri, 15 Aug 1997 16:39:15 -0400 

Message-Id: <v02130500b01a6e51bddd@[192.100.21.23]>
Date: Fri, 15 Aug 1997 16:39:15 -0400
To: ninch-announce@cni.org, cni-announce@cni.org
From: david@cni.org (David Green)
Subject: MCI Study: Alternative Public Internet Access Points

NINCH ANNOUNCEMENT
August 15, 1997


The press release below, forwarded by the Benton Foundation contains some
interesting and I believe relevant news on the increasing use of libraries,
museums and community organizations for Internet access.

David Green



                          What's Your Log-On Locale?

             MCI Study of Internet Access Finds Sharpest Increase
                       Among Alternative Public Points

    WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- According to an MCI LibraryLINK study
released today, the number of people who regularly access the Internet through
points other than home, office or school has nearly tripled in the last year.
The growing phenomenon of "alternative points of access" such as libraries,
museums and civic organizations, illustrates the heightened need for the
Internet among diverse audiences.  MCI LibraryLINK a public-private
partnership between MCI and the American Library Association, commissioned the
analysis to determine the trends associated with society's growing demand for
Internet access.

    The analysis is based on Internet research from the CommerceNet/Nielsen
Media Research Internet Demographic Studies.  In a random telephone survey of
U.S. and Canadian residents, respondents were asked where they log on to the
Internet.  The analysis uncovered some startling data about Internet access.

    In the spring of 1996, approximately 1.5% of the Internet users claimed to
access the Internet through an "alternative point of access" such as a
library.  Today, that number has almost tripled to 4% and the analysis shows
it will continue to grow exponentially as communities respond to the public's
growing need for increased public access.

    "The flourishing popularity of 'alternative points of access' illustrates
the Internet's escalating importance in the daily lives of more and more
Americans," said Vint Cerf, Senior Vice President, Internet Architecture and
Engineering at MCI.  "For people who don't work with computers in the
workplace or have the ability to go online from home, these alternative points
of access are their lifeline to the Internet and to the wealth of information
it holds such as job lines, business databases, and homework help stations."

    MCI defines "alternative points of access" as any venue other than home,
school or work where the public or a group's members have access to the
Internet.  These venues are classified as "alternative points" because going
online has not, until recently, been a service or activity associated with
these locations.  These venues include public libraries, museums, churches,
community centers, retailers, hospitals and recreational facilities.

    Percentages of respondents claiming to access the Internet from an
alternative point break down as follows:

    Public libraries                                  36%
    Churches/Community Centers                        14%
    Retail Outlet                                     11%
    (mall computer store, coffeehouse etc.)
    Hotels                                             6%
    Museums/Recreational Facilities                    5%
    Hospitals                                          3%
    Airports                                           3%

    -- Statistics has been reclassified to exclude someone else's home and
relative's workplace

    -- 20% of respondents did not answer or did not know where they accessed
the Internet

    Other segments of access showed growth, but not as large a growth rate as
access from alternative points.  Compared to 1996, the number of respondents
claiming they accessed the Internet from a school nearly doubled.  Users
accessing from home and work categories each increased by four percentage
points from 1996 to 1997.

    Since 1995, MCI LibraryLINK has awarded more than $1 million in grants to
27 main libraries impacting over 200 community library branches, helping to
increase the number of Internet-connected libraries from 21% to 80%.  These
grants have helped create and enhance information technology systems linking
people to library resources, government services and to the Internet.

     "These public points of access are important because they help level the
playing field.  By the year 2000, nearly 30% of all Internet users could be
accessing through alternative points," said Diane Strahan, Executive Director
of Corporate Community Partnerships at MCI.

    Nielsen Media Research, a Cognizant company, has headquarters in New York
City and offices in major markets across the U.S.  Through its Interactive
Services division, Nielsen Media Research develops audience measurement and
custom research on new media, including the Internet, the Web and online
services.

    MCI, with its world headquarters in Washington, D.C., offers the
industry's most comprehensive portfolio of communication services.  MCI
reported 1996 annual revenue of $18.5 billion, making it the tenth largest
telecommunications company in the world, along with being the world's third
largest carrier of international voice traffic.  Credited with first bringing
the benefits of long distance competition to American consumers and
businesses, MCI now is leading the charge to open up local calling markets to
competition.  MCI is awaiting final regulatory approvals to complete its
planned merger with BT to form Concert.

SOURCE  MCI LibraryLINK

CONTACT:
Christa Poston, 202-887-2757, or
Jill Arquette, 703-358-0012,
both for MCI LibraryLINK/
    (MCIC)

[CNI Home Page]