News

Broadband Availability and Adoption in California

Jed Kolko, research fellow for the Public Policy Institute of California, PPIC ("a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving public policy in California through independent, objective, nonpartisan research") has just completed an extensive report on the gaps in broadband availability and adoption in California.
 
Jeff used an alternative approach, adoption patterns, to measure availability that gives a more realistic picture of the problem rather than relying on the FCC zip-code data. The report shows that availability is still a problem in rural and low-income areas. It points out that the cost of broadband and computers contribute equally to holding back broadband adoption. Jed also examines the state and local level polices for broadband adoption in California.
 
As the San Jose Mercury News notes:
Perhaps most strikingly, the report suggests that many Californians still can't even sign up for broadband connections because they're simply not available.
Companies in California's Silicon Valley are developing new applications that require high speed internet access every day.  Wouldn't it be nice if all Californians had the opportunity to take advantage of them?

Broadband for All? Gaps in California’s Broadband Adoption and Availability (PPIC)

Rural areas missing broadband (San Jose Mercury News)