Connected Nation Briefing
February 21, 2008

The Alliance for Public Technology and the Communications Workers of America joined with Connected Nation to co-sponsor a briefing in the Capitol on February 21st.  The purpose of the briefing was to release the results of a research study conducted by Connected Nation that explores the positive economic impacts of widespread broadband deployment and demand. 

According to the report, if every state implemented programs modeled after ConnectKentucky, "the estimate of direct economic stimulus would be more than $134 billion per year for the nation." The study also found that Kentucky experienced an 83% rate of growth in broadband adoption while the national trend was 57%.

"Connected Nation provides convincing evidence that the benefits of broadband adoption spill over to society as a whole," said Dr. Robert Atkinson, President of the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation and Chair of APT's Public Policy Committee. "Moreover, the report rightly concludes that public policies to spur broadband are critical to ensure the best possible broadband future for the United States."

Four components are key to the ConnectKentucky model: public/private partnerships; market-based, research; comprehensive state-wide activity; and simultaneous demand creation and supply enhancement.

"Through its experience in Kentucky, Connected Nation provides an incredibly successful model for stimulating broadband build out and demand that should be adopted nationally," said APT President and CWA Research Economist Dr. Kenneth Peres.   "Its comprehensive strategy of assessing broadband availability, identifying and aggregating demand through grassroots county planning teams, and bringing providers and users together a public private partnership has resulted in an expansion of broadband availability that is significant and measurable. Connected Nation's study identifies the economic benefits that can be expected if such a strategy is adopted nationally.  This study should strengthen the growing, bi-partisan call in Washington, DC for a national broadband policy and specific legislation that would enable other states to participate in and benefit from this proven and successful model of economic development."

Legislation now pending in Congress based on ConnectKentucky model includes: the Connect the Nation Act (S.1190-H.R.3627) which is now embodied in the Farm Bill; the Broadband Data Improvement Act (S.1492) and the Broadband Census Act (H.R.3919).

The report is available at www.connectednation.org.