Benefits of Community Internet

The state of the U.S. broadband market is dismal. Most American households have little or no choice in their high-speed Internet provider, and we pay significantly more for much slower connections than do consumers in other countries. Two studies, Broadband Reality Check and Broadband Reality Check II, expose the truth behind America's digital divide:

The United States is falling behind the rest of the world in broadband price, speed, and adoption.
Household income and poverty - not population density - are the most important factors influencing broadband deployment and adoption.
One out of every ten U.S. homes are not served by a cable and/or DSL broadband provider.
Nearly all residential broadband connections are controlled by cable or telephone companies. This "duopoly" market is anticompetitive, restricting consumer freedom and choice.
The threat of competition is the most important factor behind broadband infrastructure investment decisions.

Community Internet is a promising alternative to improve our broadband market. Here are some ways municipal broadband can benefit communities nationwide:

Universal Affordability:
Rural and low-income urban areas are badly underserved by providers of DSL and cable modem broadband. Service is scarce and prices are high. No community should be denied opportunity due to a lack of technology. Community Internet treats broadband access as a public necessity, not a privilege.

Public Access:
Community Internet increases the number of voices in the public sphere. Using local networks, communities can offer citizens numerous advanced media services for everything from public safety and political forums to church services and Internet radio stations.

Economic Development:
Broadband access has become essential to economic growth, education and health care. Affordable broadband keeps jobs and attracts new businesses. It gives children computer skills to succeed in college and the work force. It expands opportunities for telecommuting and breakthroughs in telemedicine.

Competitive Advantage:
The United States is falling far behind other world leaders in broadband availability. We pay more than 10 times as much as the Japanese or Koreans, and in 2007, we fell from 12th to 15th place in broadband deployment in a ranking by the Organization for Economic Collaboration and Development. Community Internet brings innovation and competition to the broadband marketplace.

Public Education:
Unlike national telecom companies, community broadband providers can offer educational programs to train residents on Internet use and computing. These services are vital components of broadband deployment for new users who are unfamiliar with these technologies.

Learn more about community broadband and its benefits, and why those who say Community Internet is failing are wrong: