The Telework Coalition, TelCoa, has long been leading the movement to reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, promote a cleaner environment, and improve economic efficiency and quality of life through telecommuting. The Telework Coalition works to enable virtual and mobile work through research, education, technology and legislation by focusing the efforts of companies, governments at all levels, nonprofits and individuals around this common interest.
Our landmark benchmarking study gathered important data from 13 organizations that collectively have more than 77,000 teleworkers and nearly 60,000 additional mobile workers. We examined telework programs that have been in place for an average of 10 years. Our study found that many of these programs are growing as the always-on, mobile workforce is increasingly enabled with broadband Internet access and mobile devices.
The State Of The Internet
Akamai Technologies
1st Quarter 2008
The report cites the United States as 7th fastest county in the world for broadband speeds. 20% of the broadband connections in the US are faster than 5 Mbps.
The report also lists the 10 fastest U.S. states. Delaware leads with 60% of connections from the state connecting to the Akamai network at speeds over 5 Mbps.
Surviving the Digital Home
Yankee Group
April 2008
Telecommuting will become more common as employees seek to balance their work and home lives, and create more value for their businesses.
Whether working full-time from home or the occasional home workday, employees will use digital home-based technology solutions to maintain the collaborative workplace dynamics required in today’s global economy.
Collaboration technologies, including high-bandwidth video communications in the digital home-office environment, will start to alleviate some of the isolation felt by home-office workers. A byproduct of home-office working, employees will seek more solutions to minimize the negative social impacts of anywhere working.
The National Governors Association recently put out a report on state efforts to expand broadband access. As the “collective voice” of U.S. governors, the NGA recognizes the economic and social promise broadband holds, for helping businesses grow, increasing access to health care or enhancing public safety — to name a few. States play a prominent role in helping the private sector identify opportunities to expand broadband access.
NGA’s report offers a state-by-state rundown of programs and incentives implemented to expand broadband use. Our research highlights how broadband access spurs economic development, attracts new businesses to a community and improves overall quality of life. We specifically highlighted important developments in broadband, such as telemedicine, distance learning and faster information sharing in the public safety sector.
State Efforts to Expand Broadband Access
National Governors Association
May 20, 2008
Broadband communication is radically transforming the way in which Americans use the Internet by providing the ability to access voice, video, and data through a single network.
There are benefits in having access to educational institutions or telemedicine applications through the Internet.
The study recommends a variety of successful approaches to spur broadband in the states.
NextGenWeb recently attended an event hosted by the Alliance for Public Technology. The event featured Ken Kelly, Director of the Washington DC office of The Children’s Partnership, who spoke about the mission of the organization and the positive effect broadband access has on the nation’s youth.
Click below to view NextGenWeb’s interview with Ken Kelly and to hear stories of how broadband technology is rapidly improving the way America’s children learn, communicate and grow.
Understanding International Broadband Comparisons
Technology Policy Institute
By Scott Wallsten
May 2008
The broadband market in the U.S. appears to be working reasonably well, and no evidence suggests a general policy failure.
The declining OECD rank is not accurate because of statistical inconsistencies in household size, since countries with larger households will ultimately have lower per capita penetration, and changing methods of counting connections over time.
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