Is High-Speed Internet Beneficial to Rural Communities?

Camping...and Teleworking? Oh, yeah!

In short, Yes!

Providing high-speed internet to a rural community can have a significant positive economic impact. It can lead to increased business growth, improved education outcomes, and expanded job opportunities. Additionally, it can boost rural entrepreneurship, attract remote workers, and enhance overall economic resilience.

Here are some statistics as provided by the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) in their report found at CORI Article:

·         Business Growth Rates are 213% higher!

·         Self-Employment (Entrepreneur Growth Rate) is 10% higher!

·         Per Capital Income Growth Rate is 18% higher!

·         Overall GDP Growth Rate is 44% higher!

Here's a more detailed look at the economic effects:

1. Business Growth and Entrepreneurship:

Rural areas with high broadband access tend to see more new businesses opening, while those with low access often lose businesses due to lack of connectivity which is crucial for business development. Broadband enables rural businesses to compete in the global digital marketplace, access new customer bases, and more importantly reduce operational costs.

(For instance, farms utilizing irrigation are able to monitor and control their pivots or wheel-lines remotely thereby increasing efficient use of water and the ability to react to maintenance issues more quickly. Online monitoring and control also allows rural workers to more easily take vacation and travel resulting in a higher degree of satisfaction in their job and lifestyle.)

High-speed internet can also facilitate telework, allowing rural businesses to hire talent from anywhere and potentially attract high-paying jobs and workers that prefer a rural lifestyle with no commute, low crime and taxes, etc.

Rural businesses can also use the internet to expand their customer base, improve online sales, and provide more efficient services, boosting their revenue and profits.

2. Improved Education and Skills:

Students in rural areas with home broadband access have been shown to have higher grades and test scores. High-speed internet enables students to access online educational resources, participate in distance learning programs, and complete homework efficiently. It also supports adult learning, allowing residents to access university, community college, and trade school programs, thereby enhancing their skills and job prospects.

(For instance, residents who otherwise could not afford to leave their homes and commute long distances to a college or university are now able to receive higher education and obtain degrees that were impossible previously. This has resulted in a sharp increase in non-traditional and traditional university attendance through online degree programs.)

3. Job Opportunities and Economic Resiliency:

Broadband allows rural communities to attract and retain high-skilled workers through remote work opportunities. It can also create new jobs in sectors like software development, call centers, and online retail.

High-speed internet can also boost economic resilience by enabling businesses to adapt to changing market conditions and access online banking and financial services more easily.

4. Other Economic Benefits:

Broadband can improve access to healthcare services, including telehealth, which can be particularly important in rural areas with limited access to medical professionals. It can also enhance social connectivity, allowing residents to participate in online communities, maintain relationships with loved ones, and access cultural events that otherwise might be inaccessible due to distance. Since 2014, rural communities have increasingly closed the broadband infrastructure “connectivity gap” which has resulted in a renaissance in many otherwise declining communities.

Lastly, though rarely considered, the availability of high-speed internet can also improve rural tourism by attracting visitors who rely on online booking and information platforms or who will have to be connected during their vacation due to work constraints.

(For instance, family members from a metro area traveled to a rural community in Idaho for a family reunion. They were astonished to find 2 Gig fiber-optic service at their grandparents’ home and loved the ultra-fast connectivity that was better than what they had back at their city residences. As a result, two individuals who were able to work remotely moved back to that rural community to add their presence, education and economic influence to a community that was thriving where it once faced decline.)

In conclusion, the advent of the information age and the associated high-speed connectivity that fiber-optic broadband brings is reviving communities that once faced slow decline. Eradication of the connectivity gap is crucial to maintaining rural development, and indeed, growth.

Curry Andrews, Attorney at Law