Digitalinformationdrivesparticipationinpolitics,theeconomy,andsociety.Yetgreatdisparitiesexistastowhichcommunitieshaveaccesstotheinternet.In2017,onlyhalfofresidentsofformerlyindustrialFlint,Michigan,hadbroadbandorsatelliteinternetathome,whileover90percentofthoseinthrivingSunnyvale,California,inSiliconValley,wereconnected.Morerecently,Covid-19laidbarethesepersistentdigitaldividesinbothurbanandruralcommunities,illustratingthatbroadbanduseisafundamentalresourceforthefutureofopportunityincommunities.Whilepreviousstudieshaveexaminedtheimpactsofbroadbandinfrastructure,theyhaveindicatedlittleabouttheextenttowhichlocalpopulationscanaffordandusethetechnology.Moreover,therehasbeenlimitedscientificevidenceonhowbroadbandadoptionmattersforcollectivebenefits.Includingnewdataonbroadbandsubscriptionsfrom2000-2017,andcomprehensiveanalysisforU.S.states,counties,metros,cities,andneighborhoods,ChoosingtheFuturearguesthatbroadbanduseinthepopulationisaformofdigitalhumancapitalthatbenefitscommunitiesaswellasindividuals.Broadbandhasacausalimpactacrossalltypesofcommunities--foreconomicprosperity,growth,income,employment,andpolicyinnovation.Yetthereareurbanneighborhoodsandruralcountieswhereaslittleasone-quarterofthepopulationhasabroadbandsubscription,evenwhenmobileisincluded.Aswebuild“smart“citiesandcommunities,aseconomiesandjobscontinuetoexperiencerapidchange,andasmoreinformationandservicesmigrateonline,itiscommunitieswithwidespreadbroadbandusethatwillbebestpositionedforinclusiveinnovation,withthedigitalhumancapitaltothrive.
CALIFORNIA MICHIGAN SMART CITIES STATES FUTURE CHOOSING
