Measuring Broadband’s Economic Impact

Abstract

For the first time, we can say unequivocally that broadband access does matter to the economy, just as common sense suggests it should. We estimate that between 1998 and 2002, communities in which mass-market broadband was available by December 1999 experienced more rapid growth in employment, the number of businesses overall, and businesses in IT-intensive sectors. In addition, the effect of broadband availability by 1999 can be observed in higher market rates for rental housing in 2000.