Energy, Broadband, Transportation are each part of a foundation for a strong future. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act “ARRA” has seeded the process of investment into our own economy and our children’s future.
Already I read news and blogs wondering about all of the jobs the stimulus was to protect or create and yet the unemployment rate continues to rise. The answer is simply that the economy is in worse shape than anyone had been able to predict. To a large part due to the growth and maturity of the Internet.
Yes – The Internet has become the great equalizer the power of the Internet has made the world a smaller place one where former third world nations have developed science and technology at a rate which rivals and perhaps has exceeded our own.
Now to understand the impact to jobs and our economy of a truly open national broadband infrastructure:
One of the original economic studies of the impact of broadband was done by Michael Curri’s Strategic Networks Group “Economic Impact Study of the South Dundas Township Fibre Network”
It is also quoted in the NATOA Broadband Economic Stimulus study (see page 15 item 36) – It is part of the Congressional record and ended up in the House report on the act – there are several other economic reports linking back to this original study.
You will often see the ratio of a 10:1 economic return for broadband infrastructure investment which stems from these reports. Other analysis include a World bank study showing significant improvements in overall economic performance based on the speed of broadband.