Internet Service Providers News

With technology moving at a faster rate than ever before, the education sector has had no choice but to keep up. The internet has allowed millions of students the opportunity to obtain college or university degrees without having to physically attend. But what about those students in rural or underprivileged areas that don’t have access? The results of a recent study are surprising; apparently, lack of computer access had little to no effect on one’s ability to excel in their studies. But the impact of technology on student achievement is difficult to measure, as the areas it can affect are themselves difficult to quantify. And yet, other studies have shown that technology does boost a student’s achievement, but only under certain conditions.

Living in the country may afford one with peace and quiet, less pollution and more freedom. But what about the internet connection available in these areas? A huge gap between rural and urban internet speeds has been identified, and now comes the task of trying to close it. But why is it so expensive to get a wireline connection like cable or fiber optic out in the country? Cost. It’s actually more expensive to power 10 rural homes with a land-based connection than it is to connect a hundred people in an urban area. But the Universal Service Fund helps to get rural homeowners connected by paying rural internet service providers to run cable and fiber optic lines. In turn, those ISPs pay back into the USF, ensuring that country connections continue to be made.

Today nearly one American out of ten does not have access to a high-speed Internet connection.  In fact a recent study reported that there are 19,000,000 Americans living in rural communities that are forced to utilize Internet speeds slower than 3 Mbps.  The reason for this is not difficult to understand. Installing the infrastructure for broadband access is expensive.  Many communities have so few residents that companies cannot cost-justify the expense.  Also, many rural areas are made up of terrain that is foreboding when it comes to laying wire. The long distances that lines must be run are also a prohibitive factor.  Because high-speed broadband is considered necessary for business and education, the Federal government has earmarked over $100,000,000 to expand broadband to the rural areas of 16 different states.

Approximately $100 million has been earmarked by the Federal Government to be used to expand broadband Internet in the rural outlying areas of 16 states.  These areas have been identified as not currently having any type of broadband access by wire. Many of the large Internet service providers will be called upon to widen the technological gap between urban and rural communities.  Why has the government budgeted for this?  It is because they have learned that broadband Internet service improves people’s lives.  The Internet is not only necessary to attract business to an area, but is also a vital part of a child’s education in the 21st century.  It has been estimated today that 10% of all Americans do not have access to a high-speed broadband Internet connection.  Many of those affected live in outlying rural communities.

With over $103 million earmarked toward internet service providers in 16 states across the United States, the goal is to expand high speed access to rural areas, where historically they put up with a dial-up connection, satellite if they could afford the steep equipment costs and higher subscription rates, or no connection at all.  The government has identified the gap between urban and rural opportunities as being partially closed by offering many of these rural dwellers a broadband connection.  This may open up online job opportunities, as well as help children get access to the same educational opportunities as their urban counterparts.  Additionally, it may encourage more people to stay in these communities, thus increasing the talent pool there and bringing in the economic benefits.

The FCC in the United States recently announced that all Americans should be provided access to a broadband Internet connection. The government agency even promised to provide subsidies to communities in order to make this a reality.  As is frequently the case, however, governments move slowly.  And while the government drags its feet, a large number of Universities have seen the benefit of taking on a lion’s share of this task on themselves.  As a result, they have begun to invest heavily in installing broadband infrastructure in their communities.  The project, which has come to be known as Gig U, is designed to attract new businesses to the areas of the respective universities.  The hope is that the businesses will be synergistic with the academic goals of the schools.  The good news is that the communities surrounding the universities will also benefit from access to ultra-high-speed Internet!

A number of major universities throughout the United States have become very interested in creating super-high-speed Internet access and then making it available to the communities surrounding their respective schools.  Why are these colleges interested in doing this?  It has long been understood that certain businesses work well when they are situated side-by-side with large institutes of learning.  This is particularly true of high-tech businesses, which are the businesses who would benefit most from the faster Internet connections.  Knowing this, the schools are designing infrastructure that will allow for connection speeds over 1,000 times faster than anything in use today!  It is hoped that the availability of these super-high speed connections will attract tech-savvy businesses that will locate near the campuses of the schools involved. The happy beneficiaries will anyone living in surrounding communities because they, too, will get the ultra high-speed Internet!

Despite the FCC commission’s initiative to expand broadband, and the lack of budget funding to move full steam ahead, it seems that the private sector is stepping in to save the day.  An initiative called Gig.U, which stands for University Community Next Generation Innovation Project, is being spear-headed by a group of 30 universities along with collaboration from top internet service providers.  While the purpose of this project is not for the masses, it will target new technology businesses to start up near universities in order to tap into the world-class broadband infrastructure.  With proposed speeds up to 1 Gbps for community members, new businesses would be able to compete globally and tap into the vast, young talent pool from the nearby campuses.

Economic Development Corporations have served to benefit many a community with their plans and programs. With so many balls in the air to be juggled at once, technology can certainly also be a benefit. EDCs who have web sites can reach a much wider audience, and therefore increase its chances of attracting attention for its community. But in order to handle such a large amount of information, a reliable internet connection is paramount. And finding a reliable provider can be done without ever having to pick up a phone. Simply by entering your zip code, finding companies who can connect you in your community is incredibly easy. And comparing them becomes even easier when a quality ISP comparison shopping resource is used.