Broadband Can Reshape US Population

Universal broadband service in the US could change the population distribution of this country.   Especially in this decade, rural areas have lost population to urban areas owing to better jobs being available only in large cities.  With broadband service widely available in rural areas, information workers can live in less congested areas and still make “big city” salaries.

Universal broadband will relieve pressure on urban infrastructure by allowing some workers to live elsewhere.  For at least part of the week, those information workers who do live in urban areas can work at home.   This reduced commuting by both groups will lower (or at least reduce the growth of) energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Although relocating for employment is a pillar of flexibility in the US economy, many US workers are forced to live among strangers.  Broadband makes the US economy even more flexible when workers are reluctant to relocate because their homes have lost value or their job offer may come with no security.  Because of universal broadband, many information workers will not have to move away from their extended families and longtime friends.   Their children will associate with cousins, grandparents, uncles, and aunts, and will be better for it.  In 22 years of employment, I have moved to work in three different states and today live about 600 miles from where I grew up. My home town of Lafayette, LA is today building one of the world’s leading municipal FTTH networks.

The Population Reference Bureau has data on population losses in rural areas of the US.

Cable.co.uk posted an article today about research showing that universal broadband in the UK could radically change the population distribution of that country.

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1. admin says:

   August 26, 2009 at 12:04 pm

   Another article about broadband’s anticipated impact on the UK’s population…

   http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Business/Digital-Britain-Universal-High-Speed-Broadband-Could-Change-The-Population-Map-Of-The-UK/Article/200908415368502?lpos=Business_Second_Buisness_Article_Teaser_Region____0&lid=ARTICLE_15368502_Digital_Britain_Universal_High_Speed_Broadband_Could_Change_The_Population_Map_Of_The_UK_