Library

Broadband as an Economic Driver

By David Salway

There is little debate that increasing broadband access spurs economic development, but can this be quantified? There have been numerous studies by economic and telecommunications analysts which study the correlation between broadband access and number of jobs created, as well as measuring the economic impact of broadband. There are multiple economic factors that could affect the results, as well many facets of providing broadband Internet access, which have the potential to significantly affect the results.

Strategies for Economic Improvement in Appalachia’s Distressed Rural Counties

This report provides an understanding of the challenges confronting economic and community development efforts in rural Appalachian communities and explains the ways local governments, agencies, and community organizations plan and respond to challenging issues. The authors of this report examined ten representative case study counties, which were selected using a number of criteria, including economic performance, location, infrastructure investment, and demographic factors.

Can’t Afford Broadband for Your Community? Think again.

By Craig Settles

I spent Monday and Tuesday this week at the Freedom to Connect (F2C) conference in DC, which was a great event on many levels. One truly cool aspect was hanging out with a bunch of advocates and doers who believe in the power of communities finding their best broadband solutions (from a myriad of public, private and nonprofit options) to address the dismal state of broadband in the US.

Primer: What Fiber Broadband Can Do For Your Community

From Broadband Communities Magazine

Fiber to the home (FTTH) has become the leading technology for next-generation communications networks worldwide. On every continent, telecom providers are building fiber optic networks. They know that only FTTH can meet the growing demand for broadband services that require delivering video to (and from) multiple tablets, computers and television sets in a home, all at the same time.

 

Promoting Digital Inclusion in the Nation’s Capital

A high-speed Internet connection and digital literacy skills can provide access to up-to-date job listings and new career paths, to specialized online classes and advanced educational content, to valuable healthcare resources and cutting-edge medical expertise. But even in the nation’s capital, there are still too many residents cut off from these opportunities because they are not online.

Broadband Communities Summit program on Broadband and Economic Development

Building on last year’s successful program on Broadband, Economic Development, and Job Creation, Broadband Communities is presenting a more extensive multi-disciplinary program this year. BroadbandUS.TV will video webcast the entire day-and-a half event live, including several special interviews and videos of other key events at the Broadband Summit. Jim Baller will participate in most of the program, which he organized, and Marty Stern will emcee the webcast.

How Three Communities Built Next-Generation Networks

Frustrated by ever-increasing prices for telecommunication services and the reluctance of incumbent providers to upgrade their networks to meet 21st century needs, more than 150 communities have built their own citywide cable and FTTH networks. Against great odds and in the face of ferocious opposition by the existing telephone and cable companies in the courts, at the legislature, and in the marketplace, the vast majority have succeeded

Economic Impact Estimate: Professional and Technical Services Sector

The economic benefits and return on investment from driving the implementation and utilization of e-solutions are clear and compelling. SNG has calculated two scenarios with different scope for targeting the Professional & Technical Services Sector in Virginia. The ratios of economic impact to investment are quite high — over 26 times return to GDP and over 2.8 times return to taxes.

Primer on Pole Attachments

Since the enactment of the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, requests for attachments to utility poles, ducts, conduits, and rights of way have increased dramatically. As a result, electric utilities have had to balance their own need to maintain and operate their utility systems in a safe and reliable manner with the often competing needs of a variety of attaching communications entities.
These efforts were complicated by imperfections in the federal pole attachment rules, as interpreted by the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”).

Spectrum Reform Under the 2012 Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act

In February, Congress enacted the most significant piece of spectrum legislation in almost 20 years. The new law has sweeping provisions providing billions for public safety broadband and for repurposing and repacking broadcasters through reverse auctions. It frees up spectrum to be auctioned for wireless broadband and encourages expanded use of white spaces and wireless towers. With the ink barely dry, significant disagreements have emerged over the meaning of many of the key provisions of the Act and over the respective roles of the FCC, NTIA, the First Responder Network Authority, and state and local governments. Stakeholders are also struggling to understand the complex multi-dimensional procedural steps through which the Act will be implemented, including the timing of key rulemakings, auctions, and the roll-out of the public safety broadband network.