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As rural communities struggle to create economic development and new jobs in a difficult economic climate, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today hosted Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski and approximately 100 Missouri leaders in a discussion about the need to expand broadband access in rural parts of Missouri and how the federal government can help.
"High-speed internet means real jobs, economic growth for small businesses, and great improvements in healthcare, public safety, and education. It is essential that we focus investment on access to this innovation, especially in rural Missouri,” McCaskill said following the forum today in Troy, MO.
The forum focused on the economic development opportunities created by broadband access when rural communities can easily and quickly connect to other areas of the country. U.S. businesses, both large and small, depend on broadband services to run various facets of their businesses, including tracking inventory, monitoring consumer relations, and forecasting product sales. Studies show that communities in which broadband is widely available experience greater growth in employment, greater increases in the overall number of businesses, and a greater number of businesses in the information technology sectors. For each percentage of broadband adoption across the country, thousands of private sector jobs are added to the economy.
In a world where businesses are increasingly relying on the Internet to bring new levels of efficiency and creativity to their business models, some areas of the United States are falling behind due to unavailability of high-speed Internet. In 32 counties in Missouri, more than 50 percent of households do not have high-speed broadband (4 mbps broadband ability).
As rural communities struggle to create economic development and new jobs in a difficult economic climate, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today hosted Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski and approximately 100 Missouri leaders in a discussion about the need to expand broadband access in rural parts of Missouri and how the federal government can help.
"High-speed internet means real jobs, economic growth for small businesses, and great improvements in healthcare, public safety, and education. It is essential that we focus investment on access to this innovation, especially in rural Missouri,” McCaskill said following the forum today in Troy, MO.
The forum focused on the economic development opportunities created by broadband access when rural communities can easily and quickly connect to other areas of the country. U.S. businesses, both large and small, depend on broadband services to run various facets of their businesses, including tracking inventory, monitoring consumer relations, and forecasting product sales. Studies show that communities in which broadband is widely available experience greater growth in employment, greater increases in the overall number of businesses, and a greater number of businesses in the information technology sectors. For each percentage of broadband adoption across the country, thousands of private sector jobs are added to the economy.
In a world where businesses are increasingly relying on the Internet to bring new levels of efficiency and creativity to their business models, some areas of the United States are falling behind due to unavailability of high-speed Internet. In 32 counties in Missouri, more than 50 percent of households do not have high-speed broadband (4 mbps broadband ability).
