AUGUSTA – A new Census Bureau study indicates that access to computers across the country has increased, and Maine is no exception. But Mainers who own a computer are a little less likely to have access to the Internet than many in other parts of the country.

“Owning a computer does not necessarily mean having access to the Internet,” said Eric Newburger, author of the study. “We are seeing more people with computers having access, but it is not yet synonymous.”

The census study, based on data from interviews with about 50,000 households last year, estimates that 51 percent of households nationwide had at least one computer. That’s up from 42 percent in 1997. In Maine, the ownership estimate is a little higher, at 54.7 percent. State data, because of the smaller sample size, are less reliable than the nationwide data.

But while Maine has a little above average ownership, there is a little below average access to the Internet. Maine access was estimated at 42.6 percent. Neighboring New Hampshire, for example, has an estimated access of 56 percent. The national average is about 44 percent.

“I think there may be many people using a computer who don’t realize it,” said George Markowsky, chairman of the computer science department at the University of Maine. “A lot of devices are really computers and people may use them every day at work and not realize that machine is really a computer.”

He said use of a computer is close to becoming as common as using a pencil or ballpoint pen and actual use may be higher than measured in the study. But, he said, access to the Internet is an issue that should concern everyone.

Joel Russ, president of the Maine Science and Technology Foundation, said he believes actual use may be higher, based on studies the foundation has been doing on the increased use of computer technology by businesses in the state.

“We have been looking at business use of computers and it has increased dramatically since 1995,” he said, “It has gone from around 17 percent to nearly 85 percent.”

He said the foundation is doing a comprehensive study of computer access and use throughout the state. He said it is clear economic development depends on a strong information technology infrastructure.

Markowsky agreed, and cautioned Maine “cannot rest on our laurels.” He said a key issue is not just access to the Internet, but the quality of that access. He said the Bangor area has only been able to get DSL (digital subscriber line) high-speed service in recent months, and cable modems, another form of high-speed access, are only 2 years old.

“And yes, there are parts of the state that cannot get that [level of] service yet,” he said. “They are still on dial-up service.”

The Census Bureau study also measured student access and use of computers. It estimated 90 percent of all schoolchildren aged 6 to 17 have access. Officials at Maine’s Department of Education said the state is definitely doing better than the national numbers, with every child attending a public school in Maine having access to a computer and to the Internet.

“We have had access at every school since July of 1997,” said Greg Scott of the Education Department. “And there [have] been improvements in the quality of that access every year. We are ahead of the curve on this one.”

But Newburger cautions access is not use. He said the census data indicate about four out of five children in school are using computers regularly, and that includes home use as well as in school.

“Now that’s national data,” he said. “We just don’t have that detailed information at the state level.”

Scott said he expects actual use will increase when seventh-graders get personal computers next year. He said the devices, which have been called laptops but are not, are still being designed.

“We expect many school districts will let students take the units home, so I expect that will increase use,” he said.

Russ said how computers are being used in education is an important issue for economic development. He said that is an area the foundation will want to study.