One in five US homes are cell-only, figures suggest

US-- More than one in five American homes are cellphone-only, according to the latest figures from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).

The study found that 20.2% of homes were without landline telephones in the period between July and December 2008, up from 17.5% in the first six months of the year.

Researchers said this 2.7-point rise was the largest six-month increase observed since the NHIS began collecting data on cell-only homes in 2003. In total, 41m adults and 14m children live in wireless households.

Analysis of previous data found wide variation between states in the penetration of cell-only homes. According to the latest figures, adults living in the south and midwest are more likely than those in the northeast and west of the country to have ‘cut the cord', as are those adults who rent rather than own their homes.

Those living in poverty or near poverty were also more likely than higher income adults to be in wireless households, and the cell-only prevalence rate is higher among non-Hispanic black (21.4%) and Hispanic adults (25%) than non-Hispanic white adults (16.6%).

By age, 33.1% of 18-24 year-olds live in cell-only homes, rising to 41.5% for 25-29 year-olds. After the age of 30, the percentages tail-off, from 21.6% down to 3.3% for those aged 65 years and over – but, the NHIS notes, the percentage of wireless-only adults within each age group has increased over time.

According to the report's authors: “The potential for bias due to undercoverage remains a real and growing threat to surveys conducted only on landline telephones.”

Author: Brian Tarran

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