John Edwards Brings Rural Internet Access to the National Stage

[B Calm]

John Edwards Brings Rural Internet Access to the National Stage

Posted by Speed Matters team | April 19, 2007 |

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Earlier this week, John Edwards announced a plan to spur development in America's rural areas. The details of his plan show that he understands the major role technology--especially high speed internet--must play in revitalizing the economies in rural America.

A key component of the Edwards proposal is to achieve universal internet access by building high speed internet infrastructure in every corner of the country. Right now, many rural areas are being left behind, missing out on significant economic growth. As his plan states,

Rural households are only about half as likely to have a broadband connection even though digital inclusion is one of the quickest and surest ways to attract businesses. Edwards will establish a national broadband map to identify gaps in availability, price, and speed and require telephone and cable companies not to discriminate against rural communities in building their broadband networks.

Expanding high speed internet access to rural communities will attract businesses, promote growth, and spur innovation. Those are benefits that everyone can enjoy.

But there's much more. Edwards also notes in his proposal the importance of high speed internet access for telemedicine, distance learning, and emergency services. His plan calls for research and investment into implementing these programs in rural areas across the country.

By putting such emphasis on spreading technology and prosperity to rural communities, Edwards is shifting the focus of the presidential campaign to Americans who are often ignored by policymakers. As he says,

So much of the capital in America ends up in the larger cities and urban areas. Speaking for this Democratic presidential candidate, I intend to fight with my heart and soul and everything I’ve got for rural America.

http://www.speedmatters.org/blog/page.jsp?itemID=28501566

[panader0]

1. I live in the sticks and dial-up is the only thing available

except expensive satellite stuff. The phone lines for dial-up are old and my computer is so slow it is going to drive me crazy. Sometimes, a site I want to visit takes so long to load that My computer shuts down first.

[Systematic Chaos]

3. There is always satellite internet.

Be forewarned, though, that while the connection speeds are respectable, the latency is craptastic. So, if you're trying to chat with family using a webcam and, say, Yahoo IM, you can expect it to look more like one of those Chinese movies where the lips move for 20 seconds and then the subtitle comes up in 3 words. :rofl:

[sandnsea]

4. Ruby Ranch Internet

http://www.rric.net/

[Bluebear]

2. This is an excellent proposition, and shows great thought & sensitivity

It would never occur to most people, let alone candidates, that highspeed access is crucial in today's world.

[B Calm]

7. I agree

[Aristus]

5. In Tacoma, WA, we have the "Click" Network; the largest, most comprehensive

public net access system in the country. We're pretty proud of that. Imagine being able to do that on a national scale?

It'd be up there with the Tennessee Valley Authority's rural electrification initiative.

Go John Edwards!

[mahatmakanejeeves]

6. I hope this doesn't mean BPL.

I'm about to eat dinner, so I don't have the time to look at the proposal.

Broadband Over Power Line (BPL) and Amateur Radio

[conscious evolution]

8. Same here

My father,who spent 40+ years in the power generation and transmission field,says BPL would effect more than ham radios.Virtually every radio out there would recieve interference.

That said,something does need to be done about rural highspeed access.My father,who lives in the country in central Georgia,only gets a download speed of 2-3Kps.It takes forever for him to download simple emails.Forget about downloading video,music or even simple jpeg images.It just takes to long.
Because of the lack of speed available in the boonies my father,and millions of others,can't realize the full potential of the web.That is a major problem for them and our country as a whole.