Swanson Co-Authors Study on Broadband Access and Census Internet Self-Response Rates
Posted: 2026-11-11 11:43:09 (CSDE Research)
CSDE External Affiliate David A. Swanson (Professor Emeritus, Sociology, University of California, Riverside) and co-authors Jeff Tayman and Tom Bryan recently published a research article in the Journal of Economic and Social Measurement titled, “Broadband Access and Census Internet Self-Response Rates: A Case Study of Four States and Their 270 Counties.” The Census Bureau found that Mississippi, which has the lowest broadband access in the nation (76.3%), was undercounted by 4.11% in the 2020 census, while Washington, one of two states with the highest access (90%), had no undercount. To examine this issue, the authors used structural equation analysis of the 270 counties in four states, one from each U.S. region. They modeled the census internet self-response rate using broadband access, the share of the population living in rural areas, and the share that is non-Hispanic White. The rural share had the largest total effect on internet self-response (-0.779), greater than the effects of the non-Hispanic White share (0.345) and broadband access (0.280) combined, and results varied considerably across the four states. The authors conclude that continued efforts to bridge the rural/urban digital divide are needed to reduce non-response in the 2030 census, lower its costs, and support a more equitable distribution of census-based resources. A link to the full article can be found here. Congratulations Dr. Swanson!
Date: 11/11/2026