An article published this week by LocalTechWire drew attention to some of these statistics.  In a study conducted by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the results indicated that the internet home audience of all southern states falls under 60%. 

Larry Strickling, head of the NTIA, believes that we’ve reached “a point where high-speed access to the Internet is critical to the ability of people to be successful in today’s economy and society at large.” 

Broadband deployment and adoption is one of the critical issues that the much-anticipated national broadband plan is aiming to undertake.   It will be interesting to see what the recommendations are when the FCC releases the plan on March 17, 2010.

The CDF survey conducted with Insider Advantage indicated public support of telecom modernization and in passing the bill, the legislators echoed constituent sentiments.

CDF supports the passage of this legislation and the opportunities for investment and job creation in Georgia that it prompts.

Half of Georgians want all companies to be free of regulation and almost two-thirds (65%) of those surveyed said they opposed government regulation and financial involvement of private business.

The study found that 58% of respondents are “somewhat against” or “against” current telecom regulations that require the customers of larger phone companies to pay a subsidy to smaller phone companies to cover the difference in the cost of instate long distance calls made by the customers of these smaller companies.  Additionally, the survey found that 60% of Georgia voters surveyed favored legislation that would reduce, over time, the amount paid by customers of larger phone companies to subsidize both in-state long distance and basic telephone service to customers of smaller phone companies.

By modernizing the current laws to gradually end these unfair practices over time, Georgia lawmakers can pass legislation that will spark investment by companies in broadband and new technologies.  The result could be a Georgia that continues to lead in broadband advancement.

For a brief snapshot of the poll numbers, go here.

Last week, the Atlantic Journal Constitution featured a letter to the editor from John Watson.  In the letter Watson highlights the importance of increased broadband deployment as a means for job creation.  Please click here and scroll to the bottom to read the letter.

This week, the Macon Telegraph features an op-ed by Watson that explains the many advantages of updating Georgia’s telecom laws.   The proposed telecom modernization and access reform legislation in Georgia would lead to an “open regulatory environment, which would have the effect of expanding broadband,” Watson explains.  He continues, “Broadband expansion engages both businesses and the individual, profiting not just companies, but doctors and patients, or teachers and students.  The passage of the new legislation offers room for growth and development in these tough economic times.”  To read Watson’s piece in its entirety, please click here.

Gilder and Haney describe the current telecomm climate as a “moment of truth for Georgia.”  By updating the regulations in place, Georgia consumers will benefit from an estimated $3.3 billion in economic stimulus from new technological opportunities and economic efficiencies, the report found. 

The report also mentions Georgia’s neighboring states, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee that have since updated their telecom laws.  This serves as an urgent reminder to Georgia that there is an opportunity now to maintain its image as a great place to invest and further increase high-speed internet access and adoption in Georgia, saving money for consumers and businesses.

Here is an excerpt:

“This is just one example, but it leads to a larger point – that Georgia’s current telecom laws may not be ideal for today’s communications world. We need updated telecommunications laws which will incite investment in new Internet and digital technologies that will benefit Georgia citizens by creating more options for connecting to high speed internet.

These policy changes will spur economic development in Georgia communities and allow for the innovation and investment necessary to create an environment that is conducive to discovering ‘the next big thing’ in technology – like the next Blackberry or the next iPhone. Given the advances in communications technology in the past 10 years alone, who knows what the future of innovation holds?

Modernized telecommunications laws will incite investment in new Internet and digital technologies that will benefit Georgia consumers, allowing for the innovation necessary to produce new technologies that Georgia citizens need and want.”

We think it is an interesting read, we hope you check it out.

Figures released by the FCC last month in a status report state that approximately 96 percent of American households have access to broadband service from at least one service provider.  Of those people, however, about 33 percent do not subscribe to broadband.  Internet service providers have put the infrastructure in place, but the consumers will not come.  Why is this the case?

The FCC is currently conducting a study to try to answer this question.   The results of the FCC’s study could be key in the Commission’s development of the pending National Broadband Plan, which will be presented to Congress in February and will outline how the government can reach the goal of broadband access for all.

According to the article, House Democrats have expressed their wishes that libraries, hospitals and other anchor institutions be wired up for high-speed internet to both the FCC and the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA).  They also encouraged that these types of institutions be prioritized for receiving very high speed connections when the NTIA is distributing dollars from the broadband stimulus fund.

The process of developing a national broadband plan has certainly helped broadband to become a priority issue, bringing to light all the many benefits to consumers and consumer institutions.

A recent study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project highlights one of the many unique ways that consumers are receiving value from the Internet.  The study found that in this economy, many consumers are turning to the Internet for economic help. Whether it’s through use of social networking websites to discuss the economy or searching for information on how to cope with the economy, consumers are looking to the Internet. A total of 88% of U.S. Internet users have gone online for information regarding the economy.

These two studies show the impact that broadband and access to it are having on our society.  The data exemplifies just how important broadband is, which reminds us why we need to make sure we’re creating public policy environments that encourage broadband investment.