Building a Nationwide Broadband Network: Speeding Job Growth
Stephen B. Pociask
(FAC: I saw this report cited on the GLW thread, where Corning applauded it. And why wouldn't they ? ;)
TeleNomic Research, LLC
February 25, 2002
Executive Summary
Many industry experts agree that broadband deployment is occurring much too slowly.
However, public policy changes are being considered and advocated that will encourage
widespread broadband deployment in the U.S. Once deployed, these investments would
encourage the development of new and innovative applications, as well as bandwidth-consuming
content. The resulting development of services, applications and content will create huge
consumer benefits, spur economic growth and increase business productivity.
This study investigates the economic benefits of building a nationwide broadband network and
quantifies the job gains that this investment will have on the U.S. economy. The major finding
of this study is that building and using a robust, nationwide network will expand U.S.
employment by an estimated 1.2 million new and permanent jobs, specifically:
· 166,000 jobs in the telecommunications sector;
· 71,700 manufacturing jobs generated by the direct purchase of network plant and
equipment and customer premise equipment; and
· 974,000 indirect jobs created if a next generation network were built.
These well-paid, high-skill jobs would be a welcome boost to our economy. Additionally,
although not explicitly measured in these figures are the direct benefits to consumers,
improvements in network security, productivity increases for businesses, and the development of
new products for overseas markets.
Policymakers need to create incentives for the huge investments necessary to create and maintain
broadband networks. Needless regulations that make deployment of these advanced
technologies too costly should also be eliminated.
* Stephen B. Pociask is the President of TeleNomic Research, LLC, which conducts economic research in IT and
telecommunications issues (www.TeleNomic.Com). The author wishes to thank the New Millennium Research
Council (NMRC), Washington, DC, for its support in releasing this study. The views expressed in this paper are
those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NMRC.
Report continues at:
newmillenniumresearch.org |
