Economic Development and Telecommunications

Contents

• About Telecommunications Infrastructure
• Statutes
• Why Telecommunications Infrastructure is Important for Economic Development
• Planning for Telecommunications and Technology
• Municipal Wireless Internet Services
• Marketing Available Telecommunications Infrastructure - Examples
• Additional Information Resources
• Related MRSC Pages
  • Telecommunications

About Telecommunications Infrastructure

The unprecedented growth in telecommunications capacity and in telecommunications applications has changed the way all businesses function. Every new company, and every company that is relocating or expanding, wants to be located where they can take advantage of the telecommunications explosion. Businesses need bandwidth, either to communicate and transmit information to clients, or to perform their many corporate tasks. Until satellite technology makes significant advances, businesses need to be where they can tap into the growing fiber optic cable network. Local governments must do all that they can to see that the telecommunications infrastructure is there for businesses to use. Because most cities and counties do not have the resources to provide this costly infrastructure, the role of local government is to provide an environment that encourages the private development of this crucial infrastructure. Many rural areas are going to have a difficult time meeting this challenge. It is recommended by some that telecommunications development strategies be part of a community's economic development plan.

Statutes

• Ch. 81 Laws of 2000 (SSB 6675) ( 26 KB) - Provision of telecommunications services by public utility districts and rural port districts
  • Senate Final Bill Report ( 8 KB) (SSB 6675)

Why Telecommunications Infrastructure Is Important for Economic Development

• Overview of Broadband Technologies, Economic Development Digest, December 2000/January 2001
• Role of Telecommunications in Rural Economic Development - AeRie Applied Rural Telecommunications, Colorado Rural Telecommunications Project (CRTP)

Planning for Telecommunications and Technology

• Jefferson County PUD #1 Local Open Access Fiber Optic Feasibility Study, June 2000
• Mount Vernon Ordinance No. 3118 ( KB) adds a technology element to the comprehensive plan, passed 10-02
• Technology Element of the Mount Vernon Comprehensive Plan ( 151 KB) - 2002.
• Port Townsend Economic Development Element ( 1.52 MB) Goal 8 - Telecommunications, page 7 and Telecommunications Strategy, page 16.
• Skagit County
  • Skagit County Economic Development Element ( 44 KB) Business Development, Goal B, Objective B-4, page 4 of Adobe Acrobat Document. 
  • Skagit County - Interlocal Agreement ( 586 KB) between Skagit County, Anacortes, Burlington, Mount Vernon, Sedro-Woolley, PUD#1 and Port of Skagit County to establish the Skagit County Communications Network for high speed telecommunications and county-wide fiber optic network; pursuant to RCW 38.34.030, 7-05 

Municipal Wireless Internet Services

• Local Wireless Networks - A Prerequisite for the Future, by Dianah Neff,  Public Management, March 2007
• Metro Wi-Fi Networks: What are They and How Can They Benefit Your Community? by Bert Williams, Public Management, March 2007
• Municipal Provision of Wireless Internet ( 380 KB), Federal Trade Commission Staff Report, September 2006 - Provides guidance for policymakers considering whether and how a municipality should involve itself in the provision of wireless Internet service 
• Issaquah  - Wireless Internet Access Program
• Kirkland - Kirkland Free Wireless
• Seattle - Technology: Wi-Fi in Seattle can attract more customers to local business districts, support small businesses, encourage the use of public parks and facilities, and enable more citizens to access City services online
• Rainier Communications Commission (RCC)   - Steilacoom will be the first member of the RCC to construct a WiFi mesh network - See recommendations for wireless under heading,  Deployment of Wireless Broadband in Pierce County  
• WSDOT Provides Wireless Internet Access at Highway Safety Rest Areas, WADOT News, August 29, 2006 - In addition to safety, it will offer broadband resources to promote economic development and tourism in communities statewide 
• Out of State
  • Portland, Oregon - Unwire Portland -  In 2005-06 the City of Portland, Portland Public Schools (PPS) and TriMet are collaborating through to sponsor the development of a Citywide wireless network (Unwire Portland) to promote economic and public benefits for community, business and government use.

Marketing Telecommunications Infrastructure - Examples

• Douglas County PUD  Community Network
• Grant County PUD  Fiber Optic Network - Zipp
• Pacific County PUD#2  Telecommunications - Information Technology
• Port of Bellingham  Fiber Optic Network 
• Silicon Valley Vineyard - Okanogan High Tech Council, Okanogan Valley of British Columbia
• Spokane Terabyte Triangle
• Tacoma Click! Business Advantage
• Tacoma-Pierce County EDB Infrastructure
• Tri-City Industrial Development Council (TRIDEC) Communications

Additional Information Resources

• Applied Rural Telecommunications Project
• Applied Rural Telecom Resource Guide - The Guide provides rural communities throughout the United States and the world a toolkit of resources to help them meet their economic and community development goals using telecommunications. The Guide offers a directory of economic development resources, an overview of basic telecommunications concepts, a schedule of upcoming conferences and events, and background information on rural infrastructure. The Guide was developed by the Colorado Advanced Technology Institute (CATI), as part of the Colorado Rural Telecommunications Project (CRTP), with funding from the Economic Development Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The AeRie Resource was created by Brian Geoghegan, and designed and implemented by Rogerio A. de Paula.
• Center to Bridge the Digital Divide - Washington State University
• Digital Development, A Framework for Applying Information Technology to Community Socioeconomic Development - A "White Paper" prepared by Greg Laudeman, Community Technology Specialist Georgia Tech Economic Development Institute, 2003.
• Economic and Social Benefits of Broadband Deployment ( 377 KB) October 2003, by Telecommunications Industry Association. Posted 10/03.
• Economic TeleDevelopment Forum - via GeoCities Research Triangle. Has useful links to articles.
• Electronic Commerce Technical Assistance Group - A nonprofit corporation that provides electronic commerce, supply chain integration and government procurement expertise to government entities, industrial organizations, and their small business partners through Consultation, Training, and Technical Assistance. was formed, by former staff of the Kitsap Economic Development Council (KREDC) of the recently discontinued Department of Defense, Electronic Commerce Resource Center (ECRC) in Bremerton, WA.
• National Telecommunications and Information Administration
• Spreading the Wealth: Building a Tech Economy In Small and Medium-Sized Regions, by Paul Sommers and Deena Heg. A Discussion Paper Prepared For The Brookings Institution Center On Urban And Metropolitan Policy October 2003
• Technology Opportunities Program (Formerly TIIAP)  - Program Information (No funding)
• USDA Rural Utility Services (RUS) Information