USTelecom Vidcast: Broadband, Jobs and the Economy March 3rd, 2010

Today, lawmakers across the political spectrum agree that stimulating jobs and our economy are key to revitalizing our nation.  As policymakers work to generate new economic opportunities, broadband continues to bring positive growth and well-paying jobs enriching the communities and livelihoods of American citizens.

In the latest USTelecom vidcast, USTelecom President and CEO Walter B. McCormick Jr. discusses the positive contributions broadband is already making to our economy, as well as what lies ahead for broadband and IT-related industries.  Here are some featured highlights:

• Job Growth. Studies show the broadband and IT sectors created nearly half of all new American jobs in 2008.  And this growth trajectory gives no indication of slowing down.  To the contrary, Broadband Information, Communications, and Technology-enabled occupations are projected to be the fastest-growing U.S. professions over the next decade.
• Well-Paying Positions. In addition to the rapid growth of telecom positions, studies show that the average hourly earnings for these positions are 42% higher than those in the manufacturing sector.
• Vigorous Investment. Companies nationwide invested $455 billion in the Internet, Communications, and Technology sector in 2008 – amounting to more than 1 in every 5 dollars invested in the entire U.S. economy.  Not only does this establish the U.S. as the world leader in broadband investment, economists also estimate that at least one-third of our country’s productivity growth derives from these broadband-fueled sectors.

Interested in learning more?  To hear USTelecom’s overview of how broadband is aiding the economy, click on the video.

Broadband Now: Keeping Loved Ones Connected December 16th, 2009

From sending festive cards and packages to making travel plans, the holidays often remind us of the distance that separates us from friends and loved ones.  Broadband offers abundant options to stay connected, but does the Internet ultimately unite us or drive us into greater isolation?  This question was at the heart of a recent Pew Internet and American Life Project study, as featured in our latest Broadband Now video. Here are a few highlights of how Pew says the Internet is actually enriching our social lives:

• Greater diversity of social networks—Pew finds that Internet users explore a wide variety of social circles from visiting neighbors to enjoying parks, cafes, and libraries.
• Giving back to the community—In addition to millions of dollars in online charitable contributions, Pew found that bloggers who surf the web are more likely to volunteer in their local communities.
• Reconnecting with past and present lives—Whether contacting a childhood friend on Facebook or enjoying a video chat with a relative, virtual communities and instant messaging services are keeping us close.
• Making the holidays brighter—Thanks to VoIP, social networking, and email, today’s men and women in uniform can reconnect with their loved ones – which is the best kind of holiday gift.

To hear more about how the Internet is connecting us, click on the video.

Broadband Now: Season of Giving December 1st, 2009

With the holidays upon us, many Americans are not only giving to their friends and families, they are also extending the spirit of generosity to those who are less fortunate.  Traditions of volunteerism from soup kitchens to hospitals are alive and well, but broadband and its virtual worlds have given rise to a new kind of giving.  Thanks to the Internet, charity 2.0 is taking off.  How?  Click on the video, or read below to see featured highlights from our latest edition of Broadband Now:

• 1 in 10 of the 300 million Facebook users participate in at least one of the nearly 200,000 Facebook Causes – that’s 30 million people dedicating their time, support, and resources.

• Online games like “Farmville” are cultivating a new kind of giving, thanks to its “Sweet Seeds for Haiti” campaign which donates 50% of the income earned on sales of the game’s virtual sweet potato seeds to organizations that feed Haitian children.

• Twitter-based fundraising events are also on the rise, with a 2008 event raising $10,000 in 48 hours to build a classroom for students in Tanzania.

In this challenging economy, when more citizens need help and many of us have less to give, online charitable contributions are becoming mission-critical to communities nationwide.  And, lucky for us, thanks to broadband, doing good has never been easier.

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Broadband Now: Giving Thanks for Internet Innovation November 18th, 2009

As Americans nationwide gear up to give thanks at the holiday table, the Internet is bringing a cornucopia of opportunities to our communities and our lives. From unleashing job growth and keeping us connected to enhance health care, expand education, and protect the environment, we have broadband to thank for driving innovations that continue to offer unprecedented possibilities.

In honor of Thanksgiving, our latest Broadband Now video and video wall highlight a few things we can be grateful for, thanks to broadband:

Technology-Driven Job Growth. In 2008, the broadband-fueled information, communication and technology sector created nearly half of all new American jobs. And, not only are broadband-enabled jobs the fastest growing U.S. occupations, they are also among the best-paying jobs.

Investment-Driven Innovation. With high-speed Internet available to 96% of Americans and Internet traffic doubling every 12-15 months, investment is crucial to ensure complex networks continue to thrive and meet consumer demand. Thanks to the nation’s broadband providers, nearly $60 billion is invested each year to keep these networks strong, secure and growing.

Modern Health Advances. From remote medical monitoring to broadband-based innovations that track whether patients are taking their medication, the Internet is making it easier than ever for us to lead healthier lives.

Free and Open Internet. Thanks to the free and open Internet we have today, we have the jobs, investment and consumer control we want, without the government over-regulation that could stifle private investment and innovation.

For more thoughts on broadband-driven benefits to be thankful for, click on the video.

Social Media & Medicine November 5th, 2009

We’ve blogged on this site and on NextGenWeb about how broadband is revolutionizing health care for patients, but what role is social media playing for the medical community?  Doctors – who were initially slow adopters of social media – are now connecting to physician sites to network, including Sermo and Medscape Physician Connect.

What are they chatting about online?  From consulting with other doctors in their respective fields to bemoaning today’s health care hurdles, physicians gain a wealth of insight into medical opinions and trends from these virtual communities.  Others are even more engaged – blogging, tweeting, and running online forums devoted to specific subjects, such as how to run a medical practice.  Today’s physicians also use online video to educate patients.  For example, a reproductive medical specialist from Mount Sinai recently posted two videos on YouTube demonstrating the in vitro fertilization process.  Within months, more than 40,000 people viewed the videos.

How big is the physician social networking trend?  According to a Manhattan Research report, 60% of doctors say they use or intend to use social networking sites.  And it’s not just new physicians straight out of med school who are logging on.  Sermo’s average user is in his or her late 40s or early 50s.  Plus, for solo practitioners working in rural areas these sites offer an invaluable way to have impromptu chats and consultations with other physicians.

Hospitals and nonprofit organizations with a medical mission are tapping into the technology too.  Mayo Clinic not only uses podcasts, Twitter, and a blog to communicate medical news, they also use broadband to make a local radio program, featuring one of their doctors, available internationally.  Organizations are also elevating their status in the social media world.  For example, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has more than 86,000 fans on Facebook – and both national and local chapters are using the technology to build awareness for the organization, as well as to drive donations.

As social media becomes even more pervasive across demographics, the technology will continue to evolve and find new uses that benefit myriad communities.  And broadband is bringing these advances to citizens worldwide.

Broadband Now: Time to Regulate the Internet? November 4th, 2009

Today, as the FCC considers greater regulation of the Internet, everyone from consumers to Internet pioneers is proclaiming the importance of maintaining a free and open Internet. What exactly is at stake for Americans? The ability for consumers to control their online experience – not to mention the fast-paced innovation and generous investment that has made broadband what it is today.

Who’s talking about the outcome of greater government control of the Internet? Here are a few highlights discussed in our latest edition of Broadband Now:

• Investment and Jobs. In defense of a free and open Internet, Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg noted his company alone invested $80 billion in communications networks in the past five years. He also highlighted a study that reports every $10 billion increase in digital investment creates nearly 500,000 U.S. jobs.
• Innovation. How will the FCC define “reasonable network management”? Innovators are concerned a government-led approach will slow the Internet’s evolution – a particular concern for the “Grandfather of the Internet,” David Farber, who fears this policy shift could be disastrous for consumers and innovation.
• A Growing Chorus of Concern. Even Google, a long-time champion of a more regulatory approach, recently changed its tune. On the day the FCC issued its proposed rules, Google’s CEO said “It is possible for the government to screw the Internet up, big-time.” And, meanwhile the ranks continue to grow, with well-respected experts questioning the need for the government having a larger day-to-day role in our Internet.

For more insights on Internet regulation, click on the video.

Broadband Now: Trick or Treat October 20th, 2009

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.

Broadband Now: Who’s Adopting Broadband? October 7th, 2009

As our country forges ahead to create a National Broadband Plan, Americans across all demographics are adopting broadband in growing numbers.  United in the goal to connect all Americans to the Internet’s vast opportunities, policymakers and the nation’s broadband providers are taking a close look at the state of adoption in the U.S.

How many are connected?  What choices are available?  How do geography and other factors impact high-speed Internet adoption?  These are just a few of the questions we’re discussing in the latest edition of Broadband Now.

Here’s a snapshot of the state of adoption today:

Connectivity.  For the vast majority of our nation, broadband is available.  In fact, only 4% say broadband isn’t an option where they live, and nearly half of those without broadband say they don’t need it.

Rural America.  Despite the infrastructure challenges of deploying broadband to rural America, adoption in rural areas has jumped more than 20% in the past year alone, surpassing the growth of urban and suburban America.

Surging Demographics. Across virtually all demographics, broadband adoption is soaring.  African American adoption rates have tripled since 2005; Hispanic home broadband adoption grew 21% over the past year; and seniors 65+ jumped on the broadband bandwagon, with a 58% increase last year alone.

Adoption Speed.  To put broadband growth in perspective, consider this: high-speed Internet attained mass adoption at a far faster speed than consumers embraced other major technologies from color television to cell phones.

Interested in learning more?  Click on the video to hear about U.S. broadband adoption and the benefits these networks bring to our lives.

Broadband Now: National Broadband Plan September 23rd, 2009

The goal is clear: speed universal access to broadband across America to unleash considerable opportunities and economic stimulus.  With $7.2 billion in federal funds and a mandate from Congress, the Federal Communications Commission is working to draft a national broadband plan as a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

And, as profiled on our sister site, NextGenWeb.org, the FCC kick-started the planning process with a series of workshops underscoring the transformative power of broadband on our economy, health care, education, the environment and more.  But what do the facts tell us about where broadband deployment stands, and where it needs to go?  Here are a few key statistics featured in our latest Broadband Now video:

Competition and Choice. Today, 96% of Americans have access to high-speed Internet, and more than 4 out of 5 consumers have multiple choices in companies and technologies.

Investment and Innovation. The nation’s 1,400 high-speed Internet providers invest between $50 and $60 billion annually in broadband infrastructure — a sum that makes the U.S. the world leader in infrastructure investment, according to the Tech Policy Institute.

Providing Universal Access.  Approximately 5% of Americans say they don’t have broadband because service is unavailable, and other consumers say they simply have no interest in broadband.  While the federal stimulus funds targeting broadband deployment will certainly help, it’s essential that constructive policies foster innovative collaborations between the private and public sectors to bridge this digital divide.  Focusing on community-based digital literacy efforts will also be key to engaging an even broader audience.

With private companies and policymakers alike moving toward the goal of universal broadband, America’s citizens can count on this technology’s rewards growing richer for our communities.  To hear more about our nation’s plans for broadband, click on the video.

Broadband Now: Back to Work September 9th, 2009

As the summer winds down, Americans are shifting their attention from vacation to work. Whether you’re heading back to the office or looking to land your dream job, broadband can help.

Wondering how integral broadband is to our working lives? Here’s some illuminating research, as highlighted in our latest Broadband Now video:

Landing a Job. According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 41% of Americans have used the Internet to research the job market, and broadband connects us with a universe of opportunities far beyond our local area.

Telecommuting Takes Off. Already, 39 million Americans telecommute, and by 2016, a projected 63 million workers will work remotely. And, for employers who question telecommuters’ work ethic, Cisco reports that 7 in 10 of the company’s telecommuting employees experience increased productivity.

Social Media Mania. With 1 in 3 young American workers saying they would quit if their company blocked Facebook at work, it’s clear many of us are hooked on social media. Now, a CareerBuilder study reports that 45% of companies visit job candidates’ social media pages, using the technology to vet, and even disqualify, applicants.

With broadband powering a range of new networking and communications technologies, work has never been more wired or dynamic. To hear more about how broadband is aiding our working lives, click on the video.