Back to Work: Broadband Unleashes New Opportunities

As the summer winds down, Americans are shifting their attention from vacation to work.   Whether you're buckling down in the business environment or looking to land your dream job, our latest Broadband Now video and video wall highlight  how broadband can help.

Wondering how integral broadband is to our working lives?  Here's some illuminating research, as highlighted in this edition of Broadband Now:

Landing a Job.  According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 41% of Americans have used the Internet to research the job market.  Some companies now interview candidates online, and broadband connects us with a universe of opportunities far beyond our local area.

Telecommuting Takes Off.  Already, 39 million Americans telecommute, and by 2016, a projected 63 million workers will work remotely.  And, for employers who question telecommuters' work ethic, Cisco reports 7 in 10 of the company's employees experience increased productivity.   Plus, 2 out of 3 of Cisco's telecommuters report improvement in the quality of their work.

Cost Savings.  In this economy as companies look for ways to cut costs, telecommuting is one viable answer.  Cisco reports that its telecommuting initiative saves $227 million per year.  On a similar note, businesses can reduce their travel expenses by up to 75%, thanks to broadband-enabled video conferencing.

Social Media Mania.  With 1 in 3 young American workers saying they would quit if their company blocked Facebook at work, it's clear many of us are hooked on social media.  Now, a CareerBuilder study reports that 45% of companies visit job candidates' social media pages, using the technology to vet, and even disqualify, applicants.  In fact, 1 in 3 employers rejected applicants based on what they viewed.

With broadband powering a range of new networking and communications technologies, work has never been more wired or dynamic.   To hear more about how broadband is aiding our work lives, tune in to our latest Broadband Now video or check out our video wall.