Broadband Legislation Would Provide Economic Stimulus of $134 Billion Annually

BROADBAND LEGISLATION WOULD PROVIDE ECONOMIC STIMULUS OF $134 BILLION ANNUALLY
[SOURCE: Connected Nation press release]
A report released by national non-profit Connected Nation measures the national economic stimulus of broadband legislation currently under Congressional consideration. The report details the potential state-by-state impact of legislation to accelerate broadband access and use. Its findings suggest that the U.S. could realize an impact of $134 billion annually from a modest increase in broadband adoption. The Connected Nation report measures the impact of its first state-based program, ConnectKentucky. Kentucky has experienced a rate of growth in broadband adoption (i.e. the number of households subscribing to high-speed broadband service) that is measurably higher than the nation. Kentucky experienced an 83% rate of growth in broadband adoption while the national trend was 57%. By surveying consumer savings in time, miles driven and healthcare and by calculating the impact on job creation/retention, the report projects the estimated annual economic benefit for Kentucky. From this data, Connected Nation extrapolated the economic impact of modest growth in broadband adoption for each state and the country as a whole. If Congress passes legislation that enables every state to implement programs modeled after ConnectKentucky and experience an increase in broadband adoption, the direct economic stimulus would be more than $134 billion per year for the nation, according to the report.
http://www.connectednation.com/documents/CNPressRelease_EISStudy_022108.pdf

* The Economic Impact of Stimulating Broadband Nationally
http://www.connectednation.com/economic_impact_study/index.php