WHY BROADBAND? By Joe A. Sumners, Ph.D., Director, Economic & Community Development Institute, Auburn University

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1 WHY BROADBAND? By Joe A. Sumners, Ph.D., Director, Economic & Community Development Institute, Auburn University What is Broadband? Broadband, or highspeed Internet access, is the ability to send and receive data at volumes and speeds far greater than current access over traditional telephone lines. In addition to speed, broadband access provides an always on connection and a two-way capability, that is, the ability to both receive (download) and transmit (upload) data at high speeds. Broadband: An Essential Infrastructure The electronic information highway has now joined electricity and transportation modes as a core infrastructure. In the new global economy, access to broadband is essential for economic prosperity. Expanded access to high-speed Internet generates economic growth and significant job creation. Connected communities create wealth and opportunity by attracting businesses that need to locate in areas with a strong broadband presence. A study by the Brookings Institution shows that for every percentage point increase in national broadband penetration, employment expands by almost 300,000 jobs. Each additional $5 billion investment in broadband creates 250,000 jobs. For many companies and industries, transportation of data, images, voices, and sound is at least as important, if not more so, than the transportation of goods by highway, rail, and air. Communities without access to high-speed Internet cannot compete in the 21st century economy. Access to high-speed Internet is also vital to the success and well being of individuals throughout Alabama. People can save time and money by paying bills, applying for jobs, doing their taxes, and banking online. People can access social networks to strengthen their ties with faraway friends and family. Students can use high-speed Internet to improve their academic performance and prepare for future jobs. In many cases, persons without Internet access are unable to apply for jobs or government benefits. Unfortunately, only 56 percent of Alabama households have broadband access. This ranks 48th in the nation. i High-speed Internet is a tool with endless potential. To effectively take advantage of this potential, we must expand the telecommunications infrastructure into underserved areas. But we must also raise awareness of the benefits of highspeed Internet and create digitally-literate citizens. Indeed, this is an important first step toward increasing the level of demand needed to expand the communications infrastructure into underserved parts of the state. Background: In June 2006, Auburn University s Economic & Community Development Institute (ECDI) hosted the Alabama Rural Roundtable. This event brought together about 60 key decisionmakers and community leaders from throughout the state to talk about how to promote prosperity in rural Alabama. Roundtable participants identified three priority areas: (1) Leadership and Citizen Participation, (2) Education and Workforce Development, and (3) Communications Technology. While the first two issues are integral to improved rural prosperity, the focus of this initiative is on the third priority identified by rural stakeholders improving the rural communications infrastructure. 1

2 WHY BROADBAND? 2013 A Critical Issue The U.S. - and Alabama - faces a significant digital divide. Bridging the Digital Divide in Rural and Underserved Populations The U.S. - and Alabama - faces a significant digital divide. That is, there is a significant difference in Internet access between rural and urban residents - and between those with low and high-incomes. Only 57 percent of U.S. adults in rural areas subscribe to broadband compared to 70 percent in urban areas; 93 percent of households earning over $100,000 per year subscribe to broadband as opposed to 43 percent of Americans earning under $25,000 per year. Expansion of access to highspeed Internet can greatly improve the quality of life in rural areas and for underserved populations, including low-income citizens, seniors, and people with disabilities. for Rural Populations Advances in communications technology have the potential to overcome one of the biggest barriers to rural participation in the global economy isolation. High-speed Internet breaks down the barriers of distance and time, allowing residents of rural areas to participate in economic and civic life far beyond their geographic borders. With a well-developed broadband infrastructure, many business activities that require exchanges of large amounts of data, such as telemedicine and e- commerce, now become feasible for rural communities. And rural businesses are able to expand their market reach across the nation and even the world. With access to broadband, students in rural areas can take advantage of the same Internet resources as students in the most affluent Access to high-speed Internet can greatly improve the quality of life in rural areas and for underserved populations, including low-income citizens, seniors, and people with disabilities. suburbs. Broadband brings the opportunity for direct access to healthcare services for rural residents who are otherwise forced to travel long distances for medical treatment. Farmers are able to gain real-time access to vital information such as crop prices, weather forecasts, and marketing opportunities through high-speed networks. Sadly, rural residents are much less likely to subscribe to broadband than their urban counterparts. In Alabama, only 47 percent of rural households have access to broadband, compared to 59 percent of urban households. A study by Connected Nation finds that 22 percent of rural residents say they do not subscribe to broadband because it is too expensive, while 19 percent do not subscribe because it is not available in their area. Nearly half of rural residents without a home broadband connection say they don t subscribe because they have no need for broadband. A 2010 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 48 percent of non-users do not believe the material they could find online is very relevant to their lives and most do not believe that the promotion of home broadband access should be a high government priority. Clearly, many people are not aware of the many possible benefits provided to them by high-speed Internet. This represents a tremendous opportunity for educational outreach to increase digital literacy. for Low-Income Populations Research shows that low-income Americans are much less likely than higher-income residents to use broadband at home. This is especially troubling for the prospects of low-income youth. Students with little exposure to digital technologies become adults with limited career opportunities. Broader access to broadband technologies can help low-income residents obtain advanced job skills, apply for jobs online, access health care resources, and apply for online assistance from social service agencies. 2

3 for Senior Citizens Only 45 percent of those aged 65 and over have access to computer technologies. However, the benefits that broadband provides to digitally-literate seniors are significant. Home-based health monitoring over a broadband connection allows seniors to connect directly with their doctors. With high-speed Internet, seniors can monitor their bank accounts, pay bills, use online search engines, shop online, register for nutrition vouchers, and research government benefits and guidelines. Highspeed Internet also allows seniors to stay connected to family and friends. Seniors are able to send and receive s or even have a video chat with grandkids. for People with Disabilities Over 50 million Americans have some form of disability. Research shows that only 43 percent of homes of people with disabilities have adopted broadband Internet compared with 72 percent of homes with no disabled persons. However, broadband empowers people with disabilities to become more independent. A fast Internet connection that allows two-way voice, data and video transfer can eliminate barriers that keep people with disabilities from participating in everyday activities such as employment, education, and social connections. Specifically: People who are deaf, or hard-of-hearing, and those with speech disabilities can utilize live streaming video and instant text communication, liberating them from dependency on a traditional phone. People with physical disabilities can attend classes remotely, consult online with faraway medical specialists, telecommute, or apply online for jobs, eliminating the need for unnecessary or difficult commutes or trips. People who are blind or visually-impaired can search the Internet, understand videos, and communicate online using programs that read text and describe visual contents aloud in a synthetic voice or a Braille display. People who are deaf can use video relay services (VRS) to have phone conversations in sign language by means of an online interpreter. for Youth and Adult Learners Advances in information and communications technology mean that education is no longer confined to the classroom. High-speed Internet can enhance learning experiences at every level of education from kindergarten through graduate school. For adults, distance learning allows workers to gain vital skills training needed to secure employment and move beyond entrylevel jobs, whether it be through getting a college degree online or completing an online worker training program. The educational advantages made possible through high-speed Internet have become indispensable to students preparing to enter the 21st Century workforce. Specifically, with access to broadband technologies: Busy parents can confer with their students teachers more frequently. Curricula at every grade level can be enhanced with interactive Internet applications. Students can have access to superior teachers and experts from outside their region as well as online resources including lecture videos, library databases, and teacher correspondence. Students or workers can form online social networks to share educational and training resources or work together on group projects. Adults with irregular or inflexible work schedules can access educational opportunities. Industry specialists in remote areas can share their knowledge with a wider audience of workers. for egovernment and Civic Engagement High-speed Internet makes it easier to interact with government agencies and allows citizens to participate more fully in civic life. Although high-speed Internet does not replace services delivered in-person by government employees, e- government can supplement these services in important ways. Federal, state and local governments increasingly provide information, forms, and services for various government programs online. Also, high-speed Internet can lower the barrier between citizens and their elected representatives, since civic participation is only a mouse-click away. Specifically: Citizens can complete government forms online. This is faster and more convenient than hard copies delivered through regular mail. In fact, some forms are now only available online. Citizens and businesses can obtain information about government policies, procedures, benefits, and programs. Citizens can access many government services electronically, including business filings, online car registration, and analysis of Medicare prescription drug options. 3

4 WHY BROADBAND? 2013 Citizens can communicate with their elected officials or other candidates through , online petitions, and social networks. Citizens can participate in public government meetings via two-way video streaming. Citizens can connect with like-minded individuals to organize politically, participate in online campaigns, and make their voices heard via online social networks or other civic engagement tools that are readily available online. for Health Care Telemedicine the delivery of quality healthrelated services and information using telecommunications technologies has the potential to greatly expand access, increase efficiencies, and reduce the costs of medical care. The use of advanced communications technology allows the transmission of medical data and imaging, and links patients to doctors for direct consultation. Telemedicine removes geographical barriers and allows people to receive the medical care they need when and where it is needed. This is a huge benefit at a time when medical costs are rising and insurance gaps are widening. Specifically: Patients can have access to remote diagnoses, treatment, and monitoring. This includes realtime transmission of medical imagery to enable remote interpretation of MRI, ultrasound, Xrays, and other diagnostic procedures enabling rapid diagnosis. Doctors can work together as a virtual team with specialists located in any part of the world. Patient transfers, such as from a nursing home to a doctor s office, can be significantly reduced though remote monitoring and online consultations. High-speed Internet makes it easier to interact with government agencies and allows citizens to participate more fully in civic life. for Public Safety Broadband networks enable police, fire and emergency medical personnel to react to crises more quickly, while facilitating cooperation among multiple public safety agencies. Advanced two-way, public networks allow public safety officers to quickly access online resources, connect to network-enabled devices, and rapidly transfer critical video and data files during emergency situations. Specifically: First responders can receive local maps, and multiple responders from numerous agencies can view the same images and data simultaneously. Fire and police commanders can direct on theground police and fire units using voice, video, and data-enhanced communications. Emergency workers can communicate across disparate networks, between jurisdictions, and across different agencies critical capabilities at the scene of an emergency. Images and fingerprints of suspects, video clips of criminal activity, and layouts of target areas can be downloaded to police vehicle computers. A Critical Issue Telemedicine has the potential to greatly expand access, increase efficiencies, and reduce the costs of medical care. i Exploring the Digital Nation: Computer and Internet Use at Home. Economic and Statistics Administration and National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, November Unless otherwise noted in the text, reported statistics are from this source. Reference: Speed Matters: Benefits of Broadband, Communications Workers of America. 4

5 Boosting Broadband to Bridge the Digital Divide in Alabama In order to take advantage of the tremendous potential of broadband, we must raise awareness of these benefits and create digitallyliterate citizens. That is exactly what ECDI and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System are doing in Alabama, in partnership with the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind. ii Each of Alabama s 67 county Extension offices will offer training courses to help residents learn more about the benefits and practical applications of broadband technologies. ECDI has developed the following twelve training modules that describe broadband s benefits and practical uses: Introduction to the Internet and Broadband 101 ehome: Managing homes, families, and finances ecommunity: Engaging community residents and organizations ecommerce: Strategies and tools for entrepreneurs and small business egovernment: Making government more responsive and accessible elearning: Tools and resources for K-12 educators; Tools and resources for learners eglobal: Accessing international markets ehealth: Tools and resources for patients and healthcare consumers; Tools and resources for medical practitioners eworkforce: Learning skills and finding jobs epublic Safety: Resources for police, fire, and emergency service personnel Extension educators in each county will deliver at least six training sessions, choosing the modules that best match county needs. A self-directed version of each module will also be available on the project website. In approximately 25 Alabama counties, Hispanic small businesses will have free access to website training offered in both Spanish and English. Each County Extension Coordinator is also reaching out to local citizens and leaders and helping to facilitate a countywide discussion about broadband. These Connected Community forums will engage a wide cross-section of community members in discussing and exchanging ideas about broadband s potential for improving their lives individually and collectively. The forums will provide citizens with a space where they can discuss the hopes, fears, barriers and opportunities related to broadband. Through collaborative efforts with partners, the project aims to increase digital literacy among some of state s most vulnerable populations. The Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind is making each of the training modules available to deaf, blind, and severely disabled populations and conducting trainings at their eight regional centers across the state. In addition, the project is supported by other partners representing vulnerable populations that benefit from broadband access expansion, including the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, and the Alabama chapter of American Association of Retired Persons, among others. We believe that this project will make a positive difference for citizens and communities in Alabama. As more Alabamians understand and take advantage of the many opportunities offered through high-speed Internet, we will see citizens quality of life enhanced in addition to new economic opportunities for rural communities. ECDI and the Alabama Cooperative Extension are excited to be a part of this important initiative. ii The project is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce s National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Broadband Technologies Opportunity Program. 5