With broadband, Tennesseans can communicate with a loved one serving overseas or get expert medical attention without traveling to a larger city. With the right technology, Tennessee school children can prepare for tomorrow and adults can complete their college degrees online and find better jobs.
Broadband makes all of these opportunities possible, but not all Tennesseans can access broadband at home. Some Tennesseans remain on the wrong side of the digital divide. Connected Tennessee is working to change that.
Broadband can have astonishing results in Tennessee. According to a recent study released by Connected Nation, growth in broadband could have a $2.4 billion annual impact on Tennessee. This includes more than 49,000 jobs that could be created or retained. Broadband can save Tennesseans more than $13 million each year in direct health-care costs and save residents more than $130 million per year in mileage costs.
Connected Tennessee
Connected Tennessee was created based on the work of the Tennessee Broadband Task Force under the direction of state Sen. Roy Herron and state Rep. Mark Maddox. In the first six months of implementing Gov. Phil Bredesen's Trail to Innovation, Connected Tennessee has seen phenomenal results. According to our most recent study of Tennessee technology trends, home broadband adoption grew from 43 percent in July 2007 to 50 percent in January 2008, a rate that is significantly higher than the national average. Additionally, the gap between rural and urban areas shrunk as rural broadband use grew.
More Tennessee businesses are using broadband and increasing their bottom line. Over the same six-month span, broadband use among Tennessee businesses grew from 55 percent to 64 percent. Our survey results also show businesses with broadband and a Web site have twice the annual revenue of others.
Through our Computers 4 Kids program, more than 3,000 computers will be distributed to kids who may not otherwise have access to one. Lotez Holloway, 17, a high school junior who has been in foster care for five years, can use his new computer for college and have the ability to succeed in today's global economy.
Through our "eCommunity'' planning process, leadership teams are being created in every county. These eCommunity teams will identify the most useful applications for homes and businesses in their area. Providers are expanding their service areas to keep up with the increased demand. Due to the work of these leadership teams, technology demand is being created all across the state. Providers are filling these gap areas whether wired or wireless, cable or DSL. All types of broadband providers have expanded their services over the past year.
Connected Tennessee is closing the digital divide in Tennessee. I would like to invite you to join this grass-roots effort. It is important for all of us who call Tennessee home.
For more information, please visit www.connectedtennessee.org.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Michael Ramage
Quelle/Source: The Tennessean, 23.05.2008
