According to the latest report from the Pew Internet & American Life Project, broadband access to the Internet in the U.S. is spreading widely across diverse demographic groups, with especially rapid growth among African Americans. Partly due to expanded broadband access, large numbers of low-income and minority users of the Internet are posting content online. Check out the full report for details
Broadband Access and Democratization of Web Publishing
June 12, 2006 by Mark Warschauer
Papyrus News 
SWANsat to Turn Earth into Wi-Fi Hotspot
Imagine a series of at least three geosynchronous orbital satellites providing wireless Internet access to the entire world. That’s exactly what a project called SWANsat or Super-Wide Area Network Satellite plans to do by the year 2011. They intend to be a global broadband Internet service provider that can facilitate up to 600 million connections per satellite. All you need is a handheld mobile device to connect to the system.
The system is being designed by a collective of inventors, builders, GPS and Iridium satellite owners including the CEO of Western Digital. Many more companies and individuals are also driving the SWANsat project including a UN task force.
The [SWANsat] Shareware Model states that after meeting the goals of the business model SWANsat will be able to afford to provide data services to previously unserved nations. Residents of developing countries could get the satellite service for as little as $1 per month. It’s being hailed as a way to bridge the third world’s digital divide and bring new markets and technology to struggling nations.