Digital Inclusion
The lack of access creates a Digital Divide (those who have ready access to computers and the Internet, and those who do not) putting these areas a socio-economic disadvantage.
Investments in broadband infrastructure strengthen regional economies by improving skills, competitiveness, and service delivery, thus enhancing the local business environment. Broadband today is as vital as electrification was in the 1930’s.
Benefits of Broadband
Education – Bring dynamic resources into the classroom while enabling seamless communication and partnering among teachers, students, and parents.
Health Care – Create shared services that reduce operating costs and provide patients with a broader spectrum of enhanced services including remote diagnostics, administration, scheduling, and electronic patient records.
Public Safety and Emergency Response – Rapidly connecting response teams with vital information improve coordinated, timely reaction to accidents and disasters. Citizens also benefit by gaining access to the information and tools they need to make decisions and seek support.
Citizen and Social Services – Online services improve service reach and quality, save valuable time and public money while improving overall efficiency through services like smart grid technology and platforms to communicate and collaborate.
Economic and Workforce Development – Improve productivity and competitiveness through broadband new business practices and models which increase revenues, reduce costs, and improve customer service. Being online allows businesses to be anywhere and serve customers everywhere.
Regional Development – Attract, retain, and grow innovative businesses, allowing the local economy to become more diverse and resistant to economic shocks, as well as provide well-paying, high-quality job.
