Broadband Connections Bring Businesses $200K More Annually

High-speed Internet connections are directly correlated with higher median annual revenue for American businesses, according to a report released by Connected Nation. A survey of over 9,600 businesses across the U.S. uncovered a startling $200,000 revenue gap between business with broadband and those without.

The Connected Nation report also found that at least 2.1 million businesses, about 28 percent of those surveyed, do not have broadband technology. The loss of revenue for these businesses puts them at a direct disadvantage when compared to their connected competitors.

More worrying still is the fact that only 63% of businesses in the Healthcare industry use broadband, a sector that would benefit vastly from the speed and efficacy of a connected network.

Ken Peres, an economist with CWA urged policy makers to use the study to focus broadband-build out efforts on these lagging sectors.

"CWA believes that the expansion of robust high-speed wireline and wireless broadband will benefit America's consumers, workers, businesses, and communities. We need good data to inform policy makers and community leaders in their efforts to expand broadband access, adoption, and use. Connected Nation's study reveals that we can clearly do better in providing access to millions of businesses. I encourage using this data to address the sectors that are clearly lagging behind."

Broadband connectivity makes a big difference in the bottom-line of small and medium businesses and should be encouraged, especially in those sectors that require speed and efficient lines of communication to function. Broadband adoption and expansion should be a top priority in the effort to make our economy competitive globally.

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Broadband Key to Higher Business Revenue, but Adoption Lags, According to New Connected Nation Study