Broadband Stimulus

Jobs and the economy continue to be a leading priority for 2010.  As lawmakers look to stimulate high-paying jobs for Americans, broadband is already making positive contributions on this front.  As highlighted by USTelecom's video wall, here is a snapshot of the ways in which broadband is helping today's economy:

Landing a Job.  Thanks to the high-speed Internet, researching the job market and viewing opportunities well outside your local area has never been easier.  According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 41% of Americans conduct this kind of job research online.  And a CareerBuilder study indicates that 45% of companies vet candidates by viewing their social media pages.

Higher-Paying Occupations.  Consider this: average hourly earnings in telecom are 42% higher than in manufacturing.  Furthermore, Broadband Information, Communications and Technology-enabled occupations are among the fastest-growing and highest-paying jobs in the U.S. economy.

Working Remotely.  Thanks to the high-speed Internet, telecommuting expands work opportunities, particularly for those living in rural areas.  Today, approximately 39 million Americans telecommute - a number that is expected to grow to 63 million workers by 2016.  But are telecommuters as productive as their in-office colleagues?  According to Cisco, 7 in 10 of the company's telecommuting employees experience increased productivity.

Investing in America.  The rapid rise of broadband is due in large part to U.S. broadband providers' investment of more than half a trillion dollars in U.S. communications infrastructure from 2000 to 2008.  Pro-investment and innovation policies have helped promote this significant investment, and consumers have reaped the rewards.

With more work to be done to revive our economy, broadband will continue to play an important role in connecting Americans with expanded job opportunities, regardless of where they live.  To learn more about how broadband can enhance the economy, please visit ustelecom.org.