New Media Policy Group» Small Business http://www.newmediapolicy.org Emerging Policy for Emerging Technologies Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:09:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 en hourly 1 Broadband Bridge to Social Media in Rural America http://www.newmediapolicy.org/2009/07/broadband-bridge-to-social-media-in-rural-america/ http://www.newmediapolicy.org/2009/07/broadband-bridge-to-social-media-in-rural-america/#comments Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:34:53 +0000 Kevin Spidel http://www.newmediapolicy.org/?p=29 Larger pipes means more social media users. Many video conversation sites, flash based sites, AJAX driven applications require dedicated connections to the web. Many rural American’s are still unable to gain access to the broadband world.

For many, broadband may be as familiar a technology as cable television. Others may not be aware of the advantages high-speed Internet service offers. It can place adults in a virtual classroom and allow them to get a college or graduate degree — from their own homes. It gives physicians and hospitals instant access to medical records and enables remote diagnostic medicine, which can help enhance healthcare delivery in rural areas. It can allow a rancher in West Texas to sell every head of cattle in an online auction, expanding the reach of his business and raising his earning potential without the need to leave his ranch.  (Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, via TheHill.com – Bringing broadband to rural America.)

Such policies allow small business growth in rural America, but also increased use of social media solutions.

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