broadband
Fiber to the Last Mile
One of the most sparsely populated areas of West Virginia is poised to become the first in the nation to have fiber-to-the-home broadband. If the system is finally built, it will be for two reasons: federal financial support, and a quick-witted (and acting) local communications cooperative. What happened in this West Virginia high country is instructive — not only for what can be done in rural America, but also what could be lost. Full article.
Rural areas still lag in Broadband access
According to a new federal map of the nation's broadband services, most Americans have access to basic Internet service. However, significant gaps remain--mostly in rural areas--for those who want faster speeds. Full article. Link to Broadband Map
High-Speed Internet Rules Might Prove Costly
A study recently released by New York University Law School indicated that the proposed regulation of high-speed Internet service providers by the U.S. gov’t could cost at least $62 billion annually over the next five years and eliminate 502,000 jobs. The report estimates that broadband providers and related industries may cut their investments by 10- 30 percent in response to additional regulation. Full Article.
Broadband can close the education loop
Outmigration among rural youth is a problem for many rural communities. Rural broadband build-out could, however, facilitate not only the infrastructure needed to bring telework positions to rural communities, but also provide the means for rural residents to enroll in distance learning courses that will help them to become more competitive in the national and global marketplace. Full article.
Mayor antics to win Google Broadband bid get crazier
The mayor of Duluth, Minn., threw himself into the ice-ringed waters of Lake Superior, the mayor of Sarasota, Fla., immersed himself in a tank filled with bonnethead sharks, the mayor of Wilmington, N.C., said that he would even jump out of an airplane – all to get Google’s attention. Google has said it plans to build — at no charge — an ultra-high-speed broadband network for 50,000 to 500,000 customers in one or more American cities. Full Article.
Broadband Speed Race Contestants: Verizon, AT&T, Google
Plans by Google and others to provide ultrafast broadband may push Verizon, AT&T, and Comcast to accelerate their own deployments, and could create a windfall for the makers of networking equipment. Full Article.
Landrieu, Locke Announce $80 Million for Louisiana Broadband
Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Department of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke today announced an $80 million grant to the Louisiana Board of Regents for broadband expansion in Louisiana. According to Landrieu, "Creating jobs and spurring rural small business growth, these new funds will increase broadband capacity in our homes, schools, and hospitals." The full press release is here.
Google Set to Showcase Fast Internet
Google recently announced that it would offer ultrahigh-speed Internet access in some communities in a test that could showcase what would be possible if the United States had faster broadband networks. Full Article.
Broadband Helps Create Jobs, Not Higher Wages
Research shows that U.S. regions where broadband was introduced saw accelerated job growth, but the increased labor pool weighed on wages. Full Article.
Higher Phone Charges to Get Cheaper Broadband Internet Service?
Federal regulators are considering whether the government should take greater control of the Internet and ask consumers to pay higher phone charges in order to provide all Americans with cheaper access to broadband Internet service. Full Article.
