The GEO-Jobe Blog

Washington, D.C.: In a report released last week measuring the economic impact of broadband, Tennessee stands to see a $2.4 billion economic impact from a modest increase in broadband adoption. The report, The Economic Impact of Stimulating Broadband Nationally, details the potential state-by-state impact of accelerated broadband access and use. Its findings suggest that the U.S. could realize an impact of $134 billion annually from increased broadband adoption.

“Broadband information highways are becoming as important as four-lane highways,” according to State Senator Roy Herron (24th district). “To keep the jobs we have today and to grow jobs tomorrow, our rural areas must have fast and full broadband access.”

According to the report, broadband expansion and adoption in Tennessee can expect to:

• Create over 49,000 jobs
• Create more than $1.6 billion in direct income growth
• Save Tennesseans roughly $13 million in average healthcare costs
• Save residents more than $130 million in annual gas mileage costs (teleworking, shopping online, etc.)
• Cut more than 66 million pounds in average annual CO2 emissions

The data collected in this report will help Connected Tennessee take steps to improve technology availability and adoption among Tennessee residents and businesses. Connected Tennessee’s mission is to close the digital divide in Tennessee by implementing programs to meet the five comprehensive goals of Governor Bredesen’s Trail to Innovation:

• Affordable broadband technology for all Tennessee
• Dramatically improved use of computers and the Internet by all Tennesseans
• The formation of eCommunity Leadership Teams in every county – local leaders who assemble to develop and implement technology growth strategies for local government, business and industry, education, healthcare, agriculture, libraries, tourism and community-based organizations
• A policy and regulatory framework that encourages continued investment in communications and information technologies year after year
• A meaningful online presence for all Tennessee communities to improve citizen services and promote economic development through e-government, virtual education and online healthcare

Tennessee continues to garner such attention following Connected Tennessee’s recent statewide broadband speed maps, highlighting download speeds available across the state – a first of its kind mapping initiative.

To read the report or see more data from the report, please visit www.connectedtennessee.org and click on the Economic Impact Study icon.

Filed under: Data, Maps