Broadband

There is increasing evidence that access to broadband internet has positive impacts on economic growth of a region. Impressively, San Antonio was ranked 10th in the U.S. and 35th in the world for fastest internet speeds by Nomad List; however, broadband internet access is most heavily concentrated in the areas of the Alamo region that are more urbanized and affluent. (https://nomadlist.com/cities-in-northamerica#sort=internet_speed&view=list)

Access to high-speed internet is no longer a luxury, it has become a necessity in the modern world. Increasing access to broadband internet in the more rural and less affluent areas of the Alamo Region would positively impact the lives of those living in these regions and in turn improve the economic growth in these areas. The internet provides people with access to information and opportunities they would otherwise not have. The internet makes the job search easier for someone who doesn’t have ready access to a vehicle, it allows a single mother of two, with a full-time job to take online classes at night, it allows farmers in rural regions to gain access to real-time, regional weather data that is more accurate for their specified area than the 10:30 news forecast of the nearest metropolis. Connecting people to the internet opens the world and allows for people to educate and empower themselves and in turn elevate themselves economically.