House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) emphasized the importance of widespread broadband deployment and adoption for economic recovery and social justice at a recent event sponsored by BroadbandCensus.com. Read More »
Connected Nation recently released its first statewide assessment of broadband availability in North Carolina. Created in conjunction with the North Carolina Farm Bureau, the assessment compiled data from over thirty broadband providers across the state. The map is of particular importance to North Carolina because it can serve as a resource for those applying for federal broadband stimulus funding. Read More »
Speed Matters partner Connected Nation has launched a new tool to assist applicants for broadband stimulus funds made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The interactive map shows broadband availability down to the Census Block level. The tool is open to the general public, though state leaders, broadband providers, and broadband advocates will find it most useful. Users can look at any Census Block within Tennessee and Ohio to find the number of served and unserved households. Read More »
In a troubled economy, broadband gives businesses the competitive boost they need. High speed connections accelerate development by providing new opportunities for innovation, expansion and e-commerce. The Economic Growth and Quality Jobs Benefits section of the Speed Matters website highlights the many ways in which broadband boosts business. Read More »
A new research study reveals that many American households now consider broadband Internet access a necessity. Broadband at home, the study concludes, provides over $30 billion annually in benefits to consumers in the areas of education, health care, work, news, entertainment and civic affairs. Read More »
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples recently announced the creation of a state broadband task force that will bring broadband to rural parts of Texas. The task force will work with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) and the Public Utility Committee (PUC) to maximize broadband penetration throughout the state. Read More »
We at the AAPD are glad to partner with Speed Matters to raise awareness about how broadband can improve the lives of disabled persons. The Speed Matters Benefits section enumerates the many ways in which broadband enables people with disabilities and can provide opportunities for independence. Currently, studies show that disabled people use the Internet only half as much as those without disabilities. In partnering with Speed Matters, we seek to ensure that broadband service is not only affordable, but also accessible and usable for all Americans - including those with disabilities. Read More »
Recently, the American Heart Association called for greater access to telemedicine in rural areas. Specifically, the AHA's policy statement called for tools like videoconferencing to be used to allow neurologists to examine stroke patients, who otherwise might not have access to the care they need. The AHA noted that not only do rural areas often not have the specialists that stroke patients need, but that they often receive care from emergency or primary care settings - where chances of the misdiagnosis are much higher. Read More »
As part of a "rural America tour" Vice President Joe Biden alongside Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, and FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced a plan to create a $4.7 billion loan and grant program to build the necessary infrastructure to expand broadband access to underserved areas. Earlier this month, Biden spoke at the CWA National Convention and cited the success of CWA's Speed Matters campaign. Read More »
The American Library Association issued a set of recommendations on how libraries across the country should maximize broadband capabilities. Their primary suggestion was that libraries should seek fiber optic technologies in their proposals for broadband stimulus funding. Read More »
