Scientists studying the ill effects of this decrease in physical activity have revealed a complex, multifaceted relationship among physical work, energy expenditure, and health. 3 Other significant contributors to daily sitting time-watching television and driving personal vehicles-are at all-time highs, with estimates of nearly 4 hours and 1 hour, respectively. 3 Between 19, the number of households with a computer and Internet access increased from 15% to 69%. In 2003, nearly 6 in 10 working adults used a computer on the job and more than 9 in 10 children used computers in school (kindergarten through grade 12). 2 Moreover, during the past 20 years, total screen time (ie, using computers, watching television, playing video games) has increased dramatically. 2 By 2000, more than 4 in 10 adults were in light-activity jobs, whereas 2 in 10 were in high-activity jobs. In 1970, 2 in 10 working Americans were in jobs requiring only light activity (predominantly sitting at a desk), whereas 3 in 10 were in jobs requiring high-energy output (eg, construction, manufacturing, farming). Societal indicators of reductions in human energy expenditure and increases in sedentary behavior during the past several decades are particularly striking. The recent shift from a physically demanding life to one with few physical challenges has been sudden, occurring during a tiny fraction of human existence. This was essential to our survival as a species. From an evolutionary perspective, humans were designed to move-to locomote and engage in all manner of manual labor throughout the day. These changes have a dual effect on human behavior: people move less and sit more. 1 Work sites, schools, homes, and public spaces have been (and continue to be) re-engineered in ways that minimize human movement and muscular activity. And organizations like the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) and Coalition for Local Internet Choice (CLIC) put together guides for communities who are ready to advocate for themselves and improve connectivity.Īs more critical eyes are turned to the state of internet connectivity in the US, we can only hope that the digital divide will shrink.Compared with our parents or grandparents, we are spending increasing amounts of time in environments that not only limit physical activity but require prolonged sitting-at work, at home, and in our cars and communities. Many cities have chosen to invest in broadband infrastructure instead of waiting for big telco to do it on its own terms. (Even though the RDOF has rightly earned criticism.) While most of us consumers still don’t have much choice when it comes to internet access and our rural brethren even less so, municipal ISPs and programs like the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) may help bridge the gap. It’s a good start, but we still need to address the lack of competition and consumer choices, legislature that blocks municipal internet service, and the habit of overlooking sparsely populated rural areas by telecom behemoths. While the Federal Communications Commission may finally clean up their map data under acting chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, that still doesn’t fix the problems that led to this jaw-droppingly high number of homes without broadband. And DSL providers don’t seem too keen on paying to upgrade this infrastructure, either, leaving customers empty-handed in terms of quality internet service-or even safe, well-constructed infrastructure. That so many people rely on aging DSL infrastructure to gain internet access is also a problem. That likely makes satellite a no-go for those living in rural areas with high poverty rates.Īnd though the census survey didn’t break down their report further to detail DSL versus cable versus fiber internet service at home, BroadbandNow estimates that 91% of the US population has access to DSL. But you’ll pay a pretty penny of $150–$200 a month for those top speeds. Of the main two satellite ISPs, you could get speeds as slow as 12 Mbps-below even the FCC’s definition of “high-speed internet”-up to 100 Mbps. There are currently two major satellite internet providers, with Starlink continuing to work through its beta, so not a lot of choice. While it basically serves the entire US, satellite internet presents another conundrum for internet users. 3īy comparison, the average load time for a website using our Xfinity cable internet connection took an average of 1.42 seconds for those three sites using the Pingdom website speed test. A 56 Kbps connection takes an average of 1 minute and 45 seconds to load some of the most-visited websites in the US, like, , and. That so many people still use dial-up is concerning.
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