Broadband Skills Research for the State of Michigan

Client: Cisco Networking Academy, United States.

Project: Consulting and guidance on the technical skill sets needed by businesses and communities during and after a comprehensive broadband initiative, with focus on gaps that are common across experiences. SNG provided a timeline, based on experience gained with communities outside of Michigan, of the different types of jobs and opportunities created as a result of a successful community broadband implementation – one year, three years, five years.

Conducted: October – December 2009

Results: Analysis of data on usage and impacts collected by SNG, international literature reviews, and key informant interviews revealed that:

SMEs and Rural Areas face greatest challenges

Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes are replacing connectivity as the primary barriers to broadband adoption.

Productivity and Growth will come from more sophisticated and intensive uses