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Broadband Internet's Value for Rural America

Author

Listed:
  • Stenberg, Peter L.
  • Morehart, Mitchell J.
  • Vogel, Stephen J.
  • Cromartie, John
  • Breneman, Vincent E.
  • Brown, Dennis M.

Abstract

As broadband—or high-speed—Internet use has spread, Internet applications requiring high transmission speeds have become an integral part of the “Information Economy,” raising concerns about those who lack broadband access. This report analyzes (1) rural broadband use by consumers, the community-at-large, and businesses; (2) rural broadband availability; and (3) broadband’s social and economic effects on rural areas. It also summarizes results from an ERS-sponsored workshop on rural broadband use, and other ERS-commissioned studies. In general, rural communities have less broadband Internet use than metro communities, with differing degrees of broadband availability across rural communities. Rural communities that had greater broadband Internet access had greater economic growth, which conforms to supplemental research on the benefits that rural businesses, consumers, and communities ascribe to broadband Internet use.

Suggested Citation

  • Stenberg, Peter L. & Morehart, Mitchell J. & Vogel, Stephen J. & Cromartie, John & Breneman, Vincent E. & Brown, Dennis M., 2009. "Broadband Internet's Value for Rural America," Economic Research Report 55944, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:uersrr:55944
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.55944
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    Cited by:

    1. Prieger, James E., 2013. "The broadband digital divide and the economic benefits of mobile broadband for rural areas," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(6), pages 483-502.
    2. Ivan T. Kandilov & Mitch Renkow, 2020. "The Impacts Of The Usda Broadband Loan And Grant Programs: Moving Toward Estimating A Rate Of Return," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 58(3), pages 1129-1145, July.
    3. Elizabeth A. Mack, 2014. "Broadband and knowledge intensive firm clusters: Essential link or auxiliary connection?," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 93(1), pages 3-29, March.
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    6. Evan Kwerel & Paroma Sanyal & Katja Seim & Martha Stancill & Patrick Sun, 2017. "Economics at the FCC, 2016–2017: Auction Designs for Spectrum Repurposing and Universal Service Subsidies," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 51(4), pages 451-486, December.
    7. Mack, Elizabeth A. & Helderop, Edward & Keene, Thomas & Loveridge, Scott & Mann, John & Grubesic, Tony H. & Kowalkowski, Brian & Gollnow, Miranda, 2022. "A longitudinal analysis of broadband provision in tribal areas," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(5).
    8. Amir Borges Ferreira Neto, 2023. "Do public libraries impact local labour markets? Evidence from Appalachia," Spatial Economic Analysis, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(2), pages 216-238, April.
    9. David Baines, 2012. "Hyper-local news: A glue to hold rural communities together?," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 27(2), pages 152-166, March.
    10. LoPiccalo, Katherine, 2022. "Impact of broadband penetration on U.S. Farm productivity: A panel approach," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(9).
    11. Kazekami, Sachiko, 2020. "Mechanisms to improve labor productivity by performing telework," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(2).
    12. Fan Wang & Mingfeng Wang & Shichen Yuan, 2021. "Spatial Diffusion of E-Commerce in China’s Counties: Based on the Perspective of Regional Inequality," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-17, October.
    13. Edward Feser, 2013. "Isserman’s Impact," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 36(1), pages 44-68, January.
    14. Lehtonen, Olli, 2020. "Population grid-based assessment of the impact of broadband expansion on population development in rural areas," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(10).
    15. Michael W.-P. Fortunato & Theodore R. Alter & Jeffrey C. Bridger & Kathleen A. Schramm & Lina A. Montopoli, 2013. "Weighing the universal service obligation: introducing rural well-being as a consideration in the viability of the United States Postal Service," Community Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(2), pages 200-221, May.
    16. Conley, Kelsey & Whitacre, Brian, 2015. "Does Broadband Matter for Rural Entrepreneurs or ‘Creative Class’ Employees?," 2015 Annual Meeting, January 31-February 3, 2015, Atlanta, Georgia 196832, Southern Agricultural Economics Association.
    17. repec:rre:publsh:v:40:y:2010:i:1:p:5-26 is not listed on IDEAS
    18. Landgraf, Steven W., 2020. "Entry threats from municipal broadband Internet and impacts on private provider quality," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    19. repec:oup:ajagec:v:99:y:2017:i:1:p:1-18. is not listed on IDEAS
    20. Rey-Martí, Andrea & Valencia-Toledo, Alfredo & Chaparro-Banegas, Nuria & Mas-Tur, Alicia & Roig-Tierno, Norat, 2023. "Developing models to assess the social impact of mining: An exploratory study trough necessary conditions analysis (NCA)," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    21. Schmit, Todd M. & Severson, Roberta M., 2021. "Exploring the feasibility of rural broadband cooperatives in the United States: The new New Deal?," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(4).
    22. Bai, Yang & Wang, Ryan Yang & Jayakar, Krishna, 2022. "What $2.5 billion can buy: The effect of the Broadband Initiatives Program on farm productivity," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(7).
    23. Stenberg, Peter L., 2014. "The Farm Bill and Rural Economies: Broadband Investment Over the last Decade," 2014 Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2014, Minneapolis, Minnesota 173277, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    24. Brown, Jason P. & Pender, John & Wiser, Ryan & Lantz, Eric & Hoen, Ben, 2012. "Ex post analysis of economic impacts from wind power development in U.S. counties," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 34(6), pages 1743-1754.
    25. Connolly Michelle & Prieger James E., 2013. "A Basic Analysis of Entry and Exit in the US Broadband Market, 2005–2008," Review of Network Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 12(3), pages 229-270, September.

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