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Wealthier households are more likely to use the Internet on any given day than those in lower income brackets, according to the latest research from the Pew Internet and American Life Project. Ninety five percent of households earning over $75,000 a year use the Internet at least occasionally, compared with 70% of those living in households below that income level. The study offers a more nuanced view than simply "the poor can't afford it," pointing to disparities at various income levels.

Data from the latest U.S. Census reveals that even though the number of households with broadband has increased sevenfold since 2001, the "digital divide" continues, with low-income, rural and minority groups less likely to have broadband access at home.

And even when controlling for socio-economic factors, some of these gaps persist, with minorities and rural residents less likely to have high-speed Internet than their urban and white counterparts.

63.5% of U.S. households now have broadband subscriptions, according to the Commerce Department report, compiled from a Census survey of 54,000 households in October 2009.

Nearly 15 years ago, libraries were still primarily a place to go check out the printed, bound word. Only 28% offered Internet access, whereas today, almost all public libraries offer access and are helping to bridge the digital divide, according to a report by the University of Washington on Internet use in libraries across the country.

According to the report, "The wiring of public libraries has transformed one of the nation's most established community resources into a critical digital hub".

Tim Berners Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, announced this weekend the formation of a new organization dedicated to studying how the web works and expanding access to the billions of people who can't get online today. The World Wide Web Foundation kicked off with $5 million in support from media funders the Knight Foundation.

Can yet another organization really make a difference? Some observers seem to be suffering from Organization Fatigue, but we're interested to see what Berners Lee can do. A group dedicated to deep study of the web and the obstacles to its growth sounds like a great idea to us. Not everyone agrees.