SNG Research Serves As “Cornerstone” for Making the Case for Broadband Investment
July 5, 2017Rick Wilson, Projects and Programs Manager for Florida’s Walton County knew they needed better broadband in his region to increase quality of live and more importantly – promote economic advancement.
With a lack of adequate broadband service, Wilson headed to Austin in 2014 to find some answers at the Broadband Communities Summit.
One session he attended featured SNG’s Michael Curri who explained that:
- Broadband enabled 39.7% of all new jobs from 2013-2015.
- More than half of new jobs within small businesses can be attributed to the Internet.
- Local economic growth and secondary investment enabled by broadband expansion is ten times the initial investment.
Michael Curri (left) with Rick Wilson and his team who received 2016 Cornerstone Award
Armed with this and more data, Wilson took a case to the country board of commissioners that investment in better broadband infrastructure was imperative.
“The economic development piece of our pitch was what convinced the board,” explained Wilson. “The name of the game in a rural county is how can we increase the economy and drive economic development. Investment became less about downloading movies faster and focused on economic advancement.”
The board unanimously approved a $1.5 million investment in a cash-strapped county AFTER a final budget had ben approved months earlier. Leveraging e-rate dollars brought a $20 million dollar fiber investment to Walton, an accomplishment that was heralded by both sides of the political aisle.
With the build underway, Walton County was recognized two years later at the same Broadband Communities Summit with the Cornerstone Award for the significant community advancements brought about by the current fiber build.