www.ConnectingCommunities.info

Why Broadband Matters

Broadband Diffusion and Adoption

• International

• National

• State

• Rural

Broadband Penetration/100 Inhabitants (ITU)

• US Broadband penetration/100 inhabitants

• 2005 – 16th

• 2002 – 11th

• Canada

• 2005 – 5th

• 2002 – 3rd

US is falling behind - Potential loss of $1 trillion in economic productivity and more than 1.2 million jobs over next decade -Brookings Institution

2005 e-Readiness RankingsDenmark 1

US 2

Sweden 3

Switzerland 4

United Kingdom 5

Hong Kong 6

Finland 6

Netherlands 8

Norway 9

Australia 10Economist Intelligence Unit

www.eic.com

Pew/Internet – February 2006

Consumer Broadband There is a divide – It matters

• Unavailable in some communities• Bandwidth limits applications

• Education/training• Tele work• Telemedicine• eCommerce• Entertainment• eGov services

• Brain Drain• Economic development

Commercial BroadbandBusiness, schools, government, etc.

• Higher service level requirements (99.99999%)

• BIG Pipes

• Dedicated connections

• Higher cost in rural vs. urban/suburban areas

• Limited providers in rural areas

Commercial Broadband Matters

• Global economy driven by broadband

• Businesses less likely to locate or grow without broadband

• Geographic penalty

• Rural business, governments, schools, hospitals pay more than urban and suburban counterparts

Southern Rural Development Center

Connecting Rural Communities

Connecting Rural Communities

www.ConnectingCommunities.info