Thanks to Bernadine Joselyn for sharing If CTC builds it, Of course we will log on! – a report from EnSearch, a research analyst in Garrison, Minnesota on what broadband could mean to the area. It was written in support of Consolidated Telephone Company (CTC) and their proposal for ARRA funding. The author focuses on three main benefits broadband could bring to the area:

1. Increased Public Health and Safety.
2. Enhanced/Expanded Educational Access.
3. Expanded Economic Development Potential for the Region.

While the project didn’t receive ARRA funding – the case is made effectively in the reports – and could be a helpful tool for a community looking at spearheading a broadband campaign. Here’s a snippet from the conclusion…

1. Increased Public Health and Safety. First responders will be able to obtain audio and visual instructions from hospitals during emergency situations. Police will be able to locate 911 cell phone calls and better communicate with other police and fire departments across the county and region during emergency situations. Residents will be able to obtain health care information from reliable sources such as Mayo Clinic or the Alzheimer’s Association.
2. Enhanced/Expanded Educational Access. Children will be able to take online courses to supplement K-12 curriculum. Teachers will be able to access professional development opportunities online. Adults and professionals will be able to obtain continuing education units and/or complete advanced BA, MA, MBA, and PHD degrees without having to travel, in some cases, more than 100 miles to gain access to their advisors and coursework.
3. Expanded Economic Development Potential for the Region. Homebased and manufacturing businesses will be able to produce products and services in this six-county region and ship them to customers around the world. Agribusinesses will be able to obtain information regarding government programs and download forms from departments such as USDA and have access to immediate alerts regarding the markets for their products. Tourism companies will be able to offer world-class businesses with employee development opportunities and linkages with their sites around the world. As more people mix work and play and find access to work while on vacation nonnegotiable, high-speed internet may also increase the tourism draw of the area. Funding of the CTC proposal would also bring construction and operations employment to the region at a time when the local economy is struggling.