Economic Development and Telecommunications

Contents

• Introduction
• 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 References
• Related MRSC Pages
  • Telecommunications

Introduction

This page is part of MRSC's Economic Development series and supplements MRSC's pages on Telecommunications. If you have information to offer regarding the activities of your jurisdiction related to telecommunications infrastructure to support economic development, please contact the content editor.

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

• Laws of 2000, ch. 81 (SSB 6675) - Authorized public utility districts and rural port districts to provide telecommunications services
• RCW 53.08.370 - Port Districts - Telecommunications facilities
• RCW 54.16.330 - Public Utility Districts - Telecommunications facilities

Why Telecommunications Infrastructure Is Important for Economic Development

• Broadband and Economic Opportunity, National Broad Plan Plan, Federal Communications Commission, Broadband.Gov
• Does Broadband Boost Local Economic Development? (), by Jed Kolko with research support from Davin Reed, Public Policy Institute of California, 2010
• Role of Telecommunications in Rural Economic Development, AeRie Applied Rural Telecommunications, Colorado Rural Telecommunications Project (CRTP)

Planning for Telecommunications and Technology

General

• National Broadband Plan Connecting America, Federal Communications Commission
• Oregon Broadband Advisory Council
• Oregon Municipal Broadband (), League of Oregon Cities, 07/2011
• Today's Scheme for Tomorrow's Technology, by Charles H. Kaylor and Christopher Steins, Planning, July 2004 - On Urban Insight Virtual Library
• Washington State Broadband Technology Office

Washington Examples

• Forks From Timber to Technology: A Community’s Efforts to Bridge the Digital Divide (), by Julie Steinkopf Rice, Dept. of Community and Rural Sociology, Washington State University, July 2004 - This study documents how community members within Forks worked to implement information and communication technologies (ICT) through a variety of activities ranging from economic development to education to historical preservation. The report was designed to be a field guide for other rural communities seeking to utilize ICT to improve their communities both economically and socially.
• Cheney Long-Range Planning: Comprehensive Plan 2010-2030 Ch.6 Technology (), adopted 03/2011
• Kirkland Telecommunications Study and Municipal Network Business Plan, prepared by Virchow Krause and Broadband Development, 10/2004
• Longview Comprehensive Plan Ch. 6 Energy and Communications Element (), 2006
• Port Townsend Comprehensive Plan
  • Telecommunications Goal 8 Economic Development Element and Telecommunications Goal 29 Capital Facilities and Utilities Element
• Sammamish Wireless Telecommunications Master Plan (), prepared by CityScape, 06/2005
• Skagit County
  • Skagit County Interlocal Agreement () 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, 07/2005

Out-of-State Examples

• Davis, CA Computers and Technology, Ch. 8 City of Davis General Plan, 12/2007
• Portland, OR Connecting to Our Future - Includes Portland Broadband Strategic Plan

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 (), 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 Free Wireless
• Seattle Technology: Wi-Fi - 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

Marketing Available Telecommunications Infrastructure - Examples

• NOANet - Washington nonprofit broadband provider
  • Clallam County PUD Broadband
  • EDC Team Jefferson Broadband - Bringing broadband to Jefferson County
• Douglas County PUD Community Network
• Grant County PUD Fiber Optic Network
• King County Institutional Network (I-Net)
• Pacific County PUD #2 Telecommunications - Information Technology
• Spokane Terabyte Triangle
• Tacoma Click! Business Advantage

Additional References

• 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.
• Division of Government Studies for Digital Inclusion (Replaces the Center to Bridge the Digital Divide), Washington State University
• National Telecommunications and Information Administration
• Spreading the Wealth: Building a Tech Economy In Small and Medium-Sized Regions, by Paul Sommers and Deena Heg, October 2003 - A discussion paper prepared for The Brookings Institution Center On Urban And Metropolitan Policy
• USDA Rural Utility Programs

Related MRSC Resources
MRSC Index – Infrastructure development to support economic development