20
April 2016
Past Event
The Economic Impact of Rural Broadband

The Economic Impact of Rural Broadband

Past Event
Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C. Headquarters
April 20, 2016
20
April 2016
Past Event

1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 400
Washington, DC 20004

Speakers:
Shirley Bloomfield

CEO, NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association

Nancy White

CEO, North Central Telephone Cooperative

Leo Staurulakis

Executive Vice President, JSI Capital Advisors

Dusty Johnson

Vice President of Consulting, Vantage Point Solutions

The fastest Internet speed varies across the United States. Americans who live in urban areas have access to speeds unavailable to many of those who live in rural America. It is left up to rural broadband carriers to make the investments needed to close the gap.

Highlighting the important role played these carriers, a new Hudson Institute report, The Economic Impact of Rural Broadband, has determined that the industry has a direct annual economic impact in excess of $24 billion. Rural broadband further supports more than $100 billion in e-commerce, manufacturing, and retail sales.

On Wednesday, April 20, Hudson Institute hosted a discussion about closing the urban-rural gap. Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Hanns Kuttner presented the new report. Joining him to discuss the industry’s impact and prospects were Shirley Bloomfield, CEO of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association; Nancy White, CEO of a rural broadband company in Lafayette, Tenn.; rural broadband consultant Leo Staurulakis, and Dusty Johnson, Vice President of Consulting, Vantage Point Solutions.

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