"Home broadband adoption stood at 63% of adult Americans as of April 2009, up from 55% in May 2008.
The latest findings of the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project mark a departure from the stagnation in home high-speed adoption rates that had prevailed from December 2007 through December 2008. During that period, Pew Internet Project surveys found that home broadband penetration remained in a narrow range between 54% and 57%."
One alternative for free class site / social network now that Ning is going all premium.
"Spruz allows you to create a free social website to attract others with similar interests, strengthen customer relationships with your business or rally behind a cause. Spruz was officially launched March 2007 by its founders Jay Roberts and David Furman. Spruz is self funded, developed and managed by its founders. "
"Social network sites (SNSs) are increasingly attracting the attention of academic and industry researchers intrigued by their affordances and reach. This special theme section of the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication brings together scholarship on these emergent phenomena. In this introductory article, we describe features of SNSs and propose a comprehensive definition. We then present one perspective on the history of such sites, discussing key changes and developments. After briefly summarizing existing scholarship concerning SNSs, we discuss the articles in this special section and conclude with considerations for future research."