Multivariate and geospatial analysis of technology utilization in US counties

• Published in: Telecommunications policy Vol. 47; no. 7; p. 102572
• Main Authors: Sarkar, Avijit, Pick, James B., Rosales, Jessica
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2023
• Subjects: Digital divide; Regression; Social capital; Spatial autocorrelation; US County; Regression; Digital divide; Spatial autocorrelation; US County; Social capital
• ISSN: 0308-5961; 1879-3258
• DOI: 10.1016/j.telpol.2023.102572

We examine geographic patterns and socio-economic and social capital correlates of the adoption and utilization of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in 3,108 counties of the United States. Access and use of ICTs are found to vary significantly among counties in metropolitan, micropolitan, and rural parts of the country. Clusters of high, moderate, and low ICT utilization counties are characterized by geodemographic and socio-economic attributes. Regression findings indicate that young dependency ratio, college education, working age population, and race and ethnic variables are major correlates of ICT use. We analyze and explain novel findings on associations of income, ethnicity, and social capital variables with ICT usage in light of the technology-use landscape in the US. Spatial bias and large sample size fallacy issues are addressed and policy recommendations to remediate the digital divide in US counties are provided. •Spatial patterns show distinctive county clusters in continental US for information technologies (ITs).•Key factors related to IT utilization include age, education, urban extent, race/ethnicities, workforce, occupations, and social capital.•Metropolitan, micropolitan, and rural county samples are distinctive in their IT factors.•The multivariate models reduce spatial autocorrelation.•Government policies are recommended at the county, state, and federal levels to mitigate unevenness in utilization of ICTs.