Project Bluebird looks at high speed Internet for Page County, VA
“Project Bluebird,” a study being conducted by economic officials in Page County, Virginia, will assess the need, costs, and methods for bringing high-speed Internet to the county. With unemployment in the county up, and a large majority businesses expressing dissatisfaction with current Internet service, Page County could benefit greatly from Project Bluebird’s findings, and from high speed Internet.
This year, according to Project Bluebird, unemployment in Page County topped out at 8.6 percent, as compared with 3.8 percent average for the rest of the state. And 81 percent of businesses expressed dissatisfaction with Internet speed, price, reliability and availability. With unemployment so high, Page County cannot afford to have businesses unhappy with the available Internet service.
“High-speed capability today is analogous to having roads and sewer and water and electricity,” said Tom Cardman, the county’s economic development director. “It’s part of the overall economic tools that we need focusing on a 21st century economy.”
Also in the study, it was found that more than “one-third of residents continue to work outside the county daily,” which is to be expected when, according to the report:
“Economic development efforts to recruit businesses to Page County are hampered by a lack of high-speed infrastructure to support technology-dependent industries.”
The efforts made by Project Bluebird to look at the real need for high speed Internet in Page County and how to best address it, should be looked at as an example by other municipalities looking to get connected.
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