Broadband Now: Trick or Treat October 20th, 2009
Portia Krebs

Halloween is nearly upon us – filling the streets with masks of deception.  You may be able to tell the difference between a fake from the real thing on a sidewalk street, but what about when it comes to broadband myths and realities?

In honor of Halloween, our latest edition of Broadband Now reveals the true picture of broadband today – as opposed to the false images sometimes portrayed.  Below are a few highlights showcasing fact versus fiction that can help provide clarity as policy makers develop a national broadband plan.  Play along and see if you can identify which statements are a trick, and which are a treat, showcasing the tangible benefits of broadband:

• The reason more Americans don’t have broadband is because they don’t have access.  Trick.  Nearly 80 million Americans subscribe to broadband, and only 4% of adults say they don’t have broadband because service is unavailable.
• Broadband and IT created nearly half of all new American jobs last year.  Treat.  Broadband and IT networks, innovation and investment are the primary engine of job creation in our nation today, and also rank among the best paying jobs.
• There are only a handful of competitors in the U.S. broadband market.  Trick.  The FCC reports nearly 1,400 U.S. broadband providers, and more than 4 out of 5 Americans have multiple service choices.
• Broadband could cut medical expenses for the chronically ill by 30%.  Treat.  Not only is this true, the benefits of this statistic include a 40% reduction in ER visits, a 63% drop in hospital admissions, and 60% shorter hospital stays.

For more timely insights unmasking the truth of broadband today, click on the video or visit our video wall.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 20th, 2009 at 9:50 am and is filed under Broadband Now, Vidcasts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.