Tennesseans are flocking to broadband Internet in growing numbers, proof that a public/private partnership formed to encourage adoption of the service is bearing fruit, according to the group Connected Tennessee.
In a report released late Monday, the nonprofit organization set up last year to encourage broadband adoption and access across the state reported that half of Tennessee households have broadband service, up from 43 percent six months ago. And 86 percent of state residents and businesses have access to broadband.
In rural areas, where Connected Tennessee has been focusing its early work, the gains were most impressive, said Executive Director Michael Ramage. In these areas, the growth rate of broadband was 37 percent.
"Our growth has been fantastic so far," Ramage said. "We are at work, and in just six months here are our results starting to show."
Sixty-four percent of businesses in Tennessee now have broadband service, a 16 percent growth rate. Small businesses with 20 or fewer employees made the greatest strides, with broadband adoption increasing from 61 percent to 77 percent.
Connected Tennessee was established by a state task force in May 2007 and is a subsidiary of Connected Nation, an organization focused on enabling technology access and literacy across the country.
Since its launch, the group has been working county-by-county to first create local awareness of the possibilities of broadband and then improve access to the service. The effort has begun in Tennessee's most rural counties and is working up to its more urban areas, Ramage said.
Even in higher income brackets, the cost - or perceived cost - of high-speed Internet service such as cable or DSL is a barrier for many potential customers.
"It's (about) creating awareness so these folks are starting to realize the value of technology," Ramage said.
In Hickman County, for example, the library realized the Internet could be a resource for posting its catalog of books. And, Ramage said many of the communities they're working with don't realize you can obtain an associate's, bachelor's, or master's degree from in-state institutions online.
The grassroots effort includes representatives from business, education, libraries, community action, health care and government. In response, Ramage said, "many communitiess have decided (they) need to go out and beat the bushes to get interest in broadband " and directly encourage residents to sign up and distribute forms asking for expansion of networks.
Broadband providers are beginning to take notice as well, he said. In Hickman County, the first to start and complete a strategic plan for broadband, a local, yet-to-be-named provider will expand its coverage area next month, based on increased demand, Ramage said.
He said blanketing the state with coverage will require all types of technologies and a mix of providers, whether they be telephone, cable or wireless companies.
"In some cases we are just going to have to get creative with those last few houses that are a challenge," Ramage said.
He said he's excited by the recent announcement of Sprint's joint venture with Clearwire to roll out wireless high-speed Internet access across the country.
"I don't know any of their plans yet, but when we start getting into the unserved areas … we are going to have to look at cheaper ways to deploy technology or find new ways to recover costs," Ramage said. "That merger is going to be a way to deploy cheaper (service). I'm excited about the possibilities that that merger could bring."
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Larisa Brass
Quelle/Source: Knoxville News Sentinel, 13.05.2008
