Positive Cost of Broadband

Two members of the Digital Policy Institute, an interdisciplinary research and policy group located at Indiana's Ball State University, have quantified the value of being online. The authors of "Top consumer benefits of broadband," Barry Umansky and Robert Yadon, detail societal benefits in what they call a "Top 10 list that federal and state officials should consider when making choices that can affect the availability and capacity of broadband."

For instance:

• Financial savings. "a family could save an average of $7,200 each year by using the sales information and coupons that are offered to online consumers," they write.
• Educational benefits. Remotely located and low-income citizens "... are able to benefit from contemporary and specialized educational opportunities through broadband connectivity."
• Healthcare access. For example, "... remote medical diagnostics and monitoring can be carried out by medical professionals, thus allowing patients greater access to comprehensive health care no matter where they are."

In addition, they list seven other areas of benefit:

• Entertainment savings
• Increased productivity
• Voice communication
• Societal participation
• Informed electorate
• Public and emergency services
• Environmental protection

At the same time, a recent survey by the Verizon corporation revealed that most American consumers  say that Internet service is the most important utility in their home.

Verizon is conducting a series of surveys which they call the Verizon FiOS Innovation Index: Borderless Lifestyle Survey. Borderless in this case isn't internationalism, but "is a result of the convergence of wired and wireless broadband networks, and the unique user flexibility and personal empowerment that converged services enable."

Whether this group actually exists or not is arguable, but Verizon claims that they are "found in every ethnic and age group - from millennials to generation X, baby boomers and the mature generation."

Among the borderless, "The vast majority (90 percent) look forward to the day when every connectable device in their house can seamlessly interconnect and work together - via their in-home network or online."

However, plugged in though they may be, "the majority of all borderless consumers (89 percent) - and non-borderless consumers (90 percent) - still prefer watching shows on their TVs, according to the survey." That's the same percentage as non-borderless Americans.

While this group may reconsider the primacy of Internet next time the heat goes out in the winter or air conditioning in the summer, the survey does divulge how important the Internet has become in the minds of so many.

Top consumer benefits of broadband (FierceTelecom, Oct. 29, 2012)

More Than Half of U.S. Consumers Regard Internet Service as Most Important Utility in the Home, According to New Verizon Survey (Verizon news release, Oct. 24, 2102)