There are those that argue the economic impact of broadband is not substantial enough to warrant the implementation of this technology at all costs. According to a report by Ericsson (News - Alert), doubling the broadband can add 0.3 percent to the GDP, which is minimal considering all the hype about broadband and the need to have it. What reports such as this one are not able to quantify or did not choose to do so is high-speed Internet has become an essential tool for the world we live in. Everyone from grade schools to universities as well as small businesses and enterprises rely on this technology to improve the way virtually everything is done, but most experts agree the impact on GDP will rise substantially.
Attracting companies to do business in some communities is difficult, and those with standard broadband technology are pleading with Google (News - Alert) to come and install its Google Fiber network. When Google started its initiative to introduce super-fast Internet speeds, the goal was to gently nudge established companies to start providing the same service and not be a nationwide provider. However, this fact is lost on people that just want their Gigabit speed.
In an article posted on the The Daily Cougar, the writer starts by mentioning the ubiquity of Google and its ever increasing products and services, followed by why Houston would be an ideal city for Google Fiber.
The fact that Houston is the fastest-growing city in the nation (according to Forbes) and the infrastructure is strong enough to support the deployment of Google Fiber is just two of the points made in the article.
Google is moving forward with its fiber network deployment in the chosen cities, but the company has not outlined how much further it is going to go. So unless someone comes along, Houston and other deserving cities are going to have to deploy municipal fiber networks or hope other companies will start making the investment.
Whether you need fast Internet or not it will have positive impact on the lives of many Americans. An analysis by of fast Internet speeds by US Telecom (News - Alert) stated US investment in broadband and related information technology is responsible for driving one third or more of the productivity growth of the decade.
As our dependence on the Internet continues to increase, it only makes sense to have the best available technology to access the network. While it is plainly obvious to most how important this technology is, the lack of competition in the industry due to consolidations is keeping the US behind many countries around the world when it comes to broadband speeds.
Edited by Cassandra Tucker