The racial makeup of the U.S. Internet population still differs slightly from that of the general population, but those numbers are beginning to line up as more minorities gain access, according to an eMarketer study.

However, it’s interesting to note that while African-Americans represent 13.3 percent of the general population, they make up only 9.9 percent of the online population. It’s the only minority group that can claim a lower online vs. general population. In addition, only 46.4 of African-Americans are Internet users – the lowest of any population group.

Other minorities don’t fare much better. Both Hispanic and “other” minorities (including Pacific Islanders and Native Americans) claim only 49.1 percent of their respective populations as Internet users.

Obviously, these are problems. But what’s encouraging is that these groups are actively lobbying for solutions by joining forces.

For example:

• The Minority Media & Telecommunications Council has proposed a series of Federal Communications Commission broadband field hearings to help develop broadband policy through the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) and USDA. The council is calling for 15 hearings to take place over the rest of 2009, with each to take place in an area with un-served or under-served minority groups.

• The Broadband Opportunity Coalition (BOC), a newly formed coalition of civil rights and minority groups, is asking federal regulators to prioritize disadvantaged communities in a national Internet plan. The coalition supports mobile Internet access as a central part of any national broadband plan, particularly given the number of Internet applications possible through hand-held devices.

These groups aren’t just demanding broadband access just for the sake of having broadband access.

The clear purpose, as stated by the BOC, is to use broadband technology as a means to “promote better economic opportunities for minorities, including black, Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander and Native American populations, all of whom are represented in the coalition.”

These groups are on the right track. Internet access equates to opportunity. In some cases, for example, employers only accept online applications. Colleges and universities often allow free applications online, but charge a fee to process mail-in paper applications. These are just a few of countless examples.

One of our key goals at the Knight Center of Digital Excellence is to help bridge the digital divide, to advance equal opportunity through equal access. Connectivity is central to full participation in our economy, in education, healthcare, and in essence, a high quality of life in our time.