Michael Coren examines the influence of internet connection speeds on economic production and the reasons why he believes "broadband will become the interstate highways of the 21st century."
Coren explores the findings reported in a new study, conducted jointly by Ericsson, Arthur D. Little and Chalmers University of Technology in 33 OECD countries, that sought to quantify the isolated impact of broadband speed.
The results of the study showed that doubling the broadband speed for an economy increases GDP by 0.3%. While that may not seem like much at first glance, it corresponds to more than one seventh of the average annual OECD growth rate in the last decade. Furthermore, the study reports that for every 10 percentage point increase in broadband penetration, GDP increases by 1 percent.
According to Coren, broadband will significantly change the ways in which a whole host of sectors do business, with an impact similar to that of the interstate highway system, providing "infrastructure that radically improves the exchange of valuable goods (or services and ideas) leading to explosive economic growth over time."
"As broadband becomes ubiquitous, and faster, everything from retail to government services may find ways to reinvent itself, especially in knowledge-based sectors where such speed and efficiency can enhance competitiveness."
FULL STORY: Want To Boost The Economy? Boost Internet Speeds
Report: Transportation Emissions Sully California's Environmental Reputation
There's good and bad news from an annual assessment on the Golden State's economy and environment. Gross domestic product per capita increases as emissions per capita decrease, with the major exception of emissions from transportation.
Mapping the Gap Between Broadband Access and Broadband Subscription
Not everyone that has access to high-quality Internet infrastructure is making use of it.
L.A.'s Next Superhighway
Could Los Angeles get a private company to spend $3 billion to $5 billion to connect every residence and business in the city to a fiber broadband network? City leaders seem to think so, and are planning to move forward with an RFP.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Wind Energy on the Rise Despite Federal Policy Reversal
The Trump administration is revoking federal support for renewable energy, but demand for new projects continues unabated.
Passengers Flock to Caltrain After Electrification
The new electric trains are running faster and more reliably, leading to strong ridership growth on the Bay Area rail system.
Texas Churches Rally Behind ‘Yes in God’s Back Yard’ Legislation
Religious leaders want the state to reduce zoning regulations to streamline leasing church-owned land to housing developers.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service