Thursday, July 2, 2009

The Broadband Gulf

Robert Evatt, a staff writer for the Tulsa World in the nations most stereotypical rural state: Oklahoma (ok, maybe a close second to Kansas) chronicled his recent visit to a rural community and the broadband access that was noticeably absent. Evatt writes: "As it stands, we're creating a sizable gulf between connected areas and disconnected areas."

I noticed something subtle in Robert's experience, and in his commentary thereof, that struck me today. He doesn't say that "there exists" or that "there remains" a gulf. In Robert's estimation, and I would tend to disagree, "we're creating."

Certainly we cannot argue that with less than 70% of homes in America having access to broadband internet, and likely a similar number of businesses, the gulf is undeniable. I call it a gulf because, unless you've live in disconnect, you can't quite appreciate the real isolation it creates. Not just from a social standpoint--the inability to call dad on a cell--but the business disadvantage, ecommerce breakdown, etc. Can you imagine a local grocer who relies on imprint machines?

However, this gulf is being filled in faster than midway of Chicago. I don't agree that we're (any longer) creating a gulf. In years past, perhaps the ISP's and tcom giants were blind to the impacts of leaving rural areas behind. But today, we're seeing companies like AT&T step up to the rural broadband challenge. Organizations like the Internet for Everyone are rallying to the cause.

I applaud the fact that we are today bridging the gap for rural broadband with fixed wireless broadband technology.

Labels: ATT, Broadband, Fixed Wireless Broadband, Rural Broadband, Rural Broadband Access