Broadband - so what? Here's what

[Commentary] While President Barack Obama and Congress have made clear how important broadband is to our nation by putting $7.2 billion in stimulus funding behind broadband initiatives, there still seems to be a perception gap among many non-adopter citizens. In short, there is a lack of understanding of the value broadband connectivity can bring to their lives. If the perception is that high-speed access is about iTunes and iPods, then public education should become part of public policy as it relates to stimulus funding on broadband networks. It's critical to get everyone in the U.S. connected to high-speed Internet as soon as possible. When citizens aren't online, our nation's resources - our entrepreneurial spirit and innovative minds - are not being leveraged. It's time now to connect the dots on the demonstrated payoffs, so that Americans clearly know what opportunities are in store as a result of broadband adoption. So what? It's our future.