Internet business era demands widespread broadband access

[Commentary] There still are people who doubt the importance of the Internet and universal broadband access to the information superhighway. A recently released study by Connected Tennessee should help doubters come to grips with the importance and the value of high-speed Internet access.

According to the statewide study, the first of its kind in Tennessee, businesses with broadband connections generate more revenue and create more jobs. State businesses with high-speed Internet connections report median annual revenue more than $400,000 greater than businesses without broadband access. The Connected Tennessee report presents strong evidence that no education is complete without a strong technology component. Across the state, we hear businesses pleading for a better-prepared workforce. Economic development efforts hinge on broadband access and a computer literate workforce. A study by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission predicts that 97 percent of future jobs that will support a middle-class standard of living will require some post-secondary education. You can bet that the vast majority of those jobs will be in businesses that rely on broadband Internet access and use computers and sophisticated computer software to conduct their business.