Broadband in Catawba County

Greatness or Mediocrity

“To build an economy that can lead this future, we will begin to rebuild America… It means expanding broadband lines across

America, so that a small business in a rural town can connect and compete with their counterparts anywhere in the world….”

President Barack Obama

What is the Definition of High Speed Internet Service?

In March 2008, an FCC order developed speed tiers to define broadband services.

New FCC Broadband Speed Tiers

1st Generation Data 200 kbps to 768 kbps

Basic Broadband Tier 1 768 kbps to 1.5 Mbps

Broadband Tier 2 1.5 Mbps to 3 Mbps

Broadband Tier 3 3 Mbps to 6 Mbps

Broadband Tier 4 6 Mbps to 10 Mbps

Broadband Tier 5 10 Mbps to 25 Mbps

Broadband Tier 6 25 Mbps to 100 Mbps

Broadband Tier 7 Greater than 100 MbpsSource: FCC Wireless Competition Bureau

How Much Bandwidth is Needed?• Most studies indicate that America needs at least

100Mb to the Home by 2012.• European nations are already developing

networks at 100Mb to 1 GB and higher.• The City of Wilson, NC is delivering 100Mb to the

home and 1 Gb to businesses today.• They are meeting strong opposition from Time

Warner and Embarq who do not have a competitive product.

• Currently there is no known plan for 100Mb or higher to the home in Catawba County.

Japan 60 Mbs /second US

5 Mbs /secondJapan France

United States Luxembourg

5 Mbs /second

60 Mbs /second$35 /month

$55 /month

*

Wilson vs Carriers

Tier 4- 6 to 10 MBps

30 Counties in NC have better coverage than Catawba County

Economic Benefits of Broadband

• The US Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that for every dollar invested in broadband returns another $3 to the economy.

• Conversely, the failure to make necessary investments in broadband is projected to reduce productivity by one percent per year or more.

• A 1 percent increase in a state’s broadband penetration results in .2 to .3 percent increase in employment.

• The effect of high speed Internet access translates into $1000 to $1500 increase in per capita income.