Pew Internet & American Life Project

Pew Internet & American Life Project A new report by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, "How Americans Get in Touch With Government", shows that 97 million adult Americans, or 77% of Internet users, took advantage of e-gov in 2003, whether that meant going to government Web sites or emailing government officials. This represented a growth of 50% from 2002. At the same time, citizens who contact government said they are more likely to turn to traditional means - either the telephone or in-person visits - rather than the Web or email to deal with government.

1 minute read

May 25, 2004, 11:06 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


Pew Internet & American Life Project



A new report by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, "How Americans Get in Touch With Government", shows that 97 million adult Americans, or 77% of Internet users, took advantage of e-gov in 2003, whether that meant going to government Web sites or emailing government officials. This represented a growth of 50% from 2002. At the same time, citizens who contact government said they are more likely to turn to traditional means - either the telephone or in-person visits - rather than the Web or email to deal with government.



According to the report, Internet users are about 3 times as likely as non-Internet users to get in touch with government, whether the contact means conducting a transaction or seeking help with a problem. Probably because it's easier to shoot off an email or submit a web form than trying to find the right person and phone number.



Another interesting finding concerns accessibility: Just 40% of those with disabilities have access to e-gov services, compared to 63% of the overall population. Those with disabilities prefer contacting the government by telephone or in person rather than over the Web or email by a 65% to 15% margin.


Chris Steins

Chris Stines is Planetizen's former Editor and the founder of Urban Insight, a leading digital agency. Chris has 25 years of experience in technology consulting and urban planning and has served as a consultant to public sector state, county, and local agencies, Fortune 500 private firms, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations.

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

People in Los Angeles going to the polls, following a sign with an "I Voted" design

California appears to reject Prop. 45

The proposition would have expanded the projects that qualify for a streamlined environmental review, effectively paring down the California Environmental Quality Act.

30 minutes ago - Cal Matters

People board a BART train in San Fransico. The train has blue trim and the sky is cloudy.

Bay area voters pass ‘crucial lifeline’ for transit

Proposition RTM, which will fund Bay Area transit, has approval from 61% of voters as of 9:45 p.m. on Nov. 3.

1 hour ago - San Francisco Chronicle

Two rows of hay bales. the top row spells out "no data" and the bottom spells "centers". three bales are painted with American flags.

Voters across the country reject data centers

Dozens of communities voted on measures to restrict the buildout of data centers.

2 hours ago - Stateline

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Write for Planetizen