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Internet access yields economic benefit to Peace River and Similkameen
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Julie Zilber, 604.291.5273, Julie_zilber@sfu.ca
Brenda Dallaway,7th Floor Media, 604.291.5272, brenda@7thfloormedia.com
Julie Zilber, 604.291.5273, Julie_zilber@sfu.ca
Brenda Dallaway,7th Floor Media, 604.291.5272, brenda@7thfloormedia.com
December 13, 2005
You Snooze, You Lose, a new study on the economic impact of broadband Internet access in BC's Peace River and South Similkameen districts, says that broadband Internet access has a measurable economic impact in these two remote and rural regions of British Columbia. The Industry Canada study, led by Julie Zilber of Simon Fraser University's 7th Floor Media, Phillip Djwa of the BC Community Connectivity Co-op, and economist David Schneider, looked at the economic impact of broadband Internet access on business and residential broadband subscribers.
“We believe the data clearly indicate that broadband Internet access has a positive economic impact in these areas,” says Zilber. “For some businesses, broadband connectivity is resulting in increased business income. For many more, broadband connectivity is allowing them to maintain their income.
“While there's still more research that we'd like to do, it's pretty clear that without broadband access businesses in remote and rural communities would be at a significant competitive disadvantage,” she says. “As one of our respondents put it, 'Broadband is no longer a luxury service. In today's world it is as essential as the telephone and electric power. Most businesses would be at a major disadvantage without broadband accessibility.'”
Key findings of the study include:
Over 80 per cent of business respondents reported that broadband positively affected their businesses. Over 18 per cent stated they could not operate without broadband; 62 per cent of businesses say productivity has gone up with a majority citing an increase of more than 10 per cent; Many businesses reported increased revenue and/or decreased costs due to broadband connectivity; 15 per cent of residential broadband subscribers reported that household income has increased and 39 per cent said that household expenses have decreased; Almost 75 per cent of residential respondents reported that broadband connectivity at their place of work was critical for one or more household members.
To read the full report, go to www.7thfloormedia.com/broadbandimpact
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Backgrounder available
“We believe the data clearly indicate that broadband Internet access has a positive economic impact in these areas,” says Zilber. “For some businesses, broadband connectivity is resulting in increased business income. For many more, broadband connectivity is allowing them to maintain their income.
“While there's still more research that we'd like to do, it's pretty clear that without broadband access businesses in remote and rural communities would be at a significant competitive disadvantage,” she says. “As one of our respondents put it, 'Broadband is no longer a luxury service. In today's world it is as essential as the telephone and electric power. Most businesses would be at a major disadvantage without broadband accessibility.'”
Key findings of the study include:
Over 80 per cent of business respondents reported that broadband positively affected their businesses. Over 18 per cent stated they could not operate without broadband; 62 per cent of businesses say productivity has gone up with a majority citing an increase of more than 10 per cent; Many businesses reported increased revenue and/or decreased costs due to broadband connectivity; 15 per cent of residential broadband subscribers reported that household income has increased and 39 per cent said that household expenses have decreased; Almost 75 per cent of residential respondents reported that broadband connectivity at their place of work was critical for one or more household members.
To read the full report, go to www.7thfloormedia.com/broadbandimpact
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Backgrounder available