The rural connection

[Commentary] Rural America now has an opportunity to work with, and add to, the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network, FirstNet.  A recent study in Arizona showed a number of businesses would relocate to rural areas with sufficient workforces if the areas weren’t lacking broadband coverage. It has also been reported by Connect America, a group under the direction of the federal government, that areas that deploy broadband services are more likely to keep businesses already located in their area.

Understand that even with the FirstNet mandate to provide coverage for rural public safety agencies, there are still many rural areas where the network will not be able to provide adequate coverage simply because of the economics involved. However, the combination of FirstNet, fiber, and microwave circuits penetrating rural areas leads to the possibility of expanding FirstNet coverage not only for public safety but for use by businesses and citizens living and working in rural areas. Local leadership in states, cities, counties, small towns, and villages, as well as tribal areas, have a great opportunity to join forces with FirstNet and to use the network as the lynchpin of a much broader initiative to drive broadband in rural America. It takes hard work and an understanding of what pieces and parts need to be put into place to help further the goal of providing rural broadband.

[Andrew Seybold is the CEO of Andrew Seybold, Inc., a consulting, and educational firm serving the wireless community and its customers since 1991.]