Despite economy, broadband use rises in state

San Francisco -- A slumping economy didn't stop an increasing number of Californians from accessing the Internet in their homes using broadband, but the digital divide along ethnic and income lines persists, according to a recent study.

The Public Policy Institute of California survey interviewed more than 2,500 people and found that 62 percent said they had broadband at home, a seven-point increase from last year. The results mirrored the national average reported last week by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project: 63 percent...