Tuesday– September 23, 2014
It’s nice to see that people are recognizing that innovation isn’t always in Silicon Valley. Writing you today from the countryside in Three Oaks, Michigan, aka “Michiana” — where my poky web access is satellite based.
Steve Case’s article earlier this week in the Washington Post — Why innovation and start-ups are thriving in ‘flyover’ country — is spot on. Case, you may recall, was co-founder of AOL. He correctly identifies the reasons why Chicago, Denver, Cincinnati, and other smaller cities are becoming vibrant centers of start-ups. He’s asking for investments of time and money to be made in order to further the trend. I agree, and…
He didn’t go far enough with his article — he missed one key factor in developing a wide distribution of start-ups and entrepreneurial companies in the USA (and this hold true for other large countries). What he missed is a Lack of Rural Technology Infrastructure. The National Broadband Plan, articulated as part of the USA economic stimulus, has never been implemented. Like many good ideas it’s been politicized, and so, South Korean children have better web access at schools than Americans. Even if the National Broadband Plan was fully implemented, it leaves out a lot of rural people, it’s not Universal Access for Americans.
Case cites “advancements in technology” as one reason flyover areas are having, and will have more, start-ups. Well, yes, but it’s not a given they’ll get access to that technology. Case assumes that what’s common even in small cities is actually universal. It’s not universal. Rural areas have been neglected by both commercial companies and the government. There are a few exceptions, with entrepreneurs trying to close the gap (like aXess America — recently purchased by larger player Mercury Wireless). But infrastructure of any kind is expensive and small telco’s simply don’t have the cash to invest.
This is one of those national issues in the USA that screams for across aisle cooperation, creative problem solving, and compromise for the common good. Universal access to broadband ought to be a national goal.
I ask any rural American voter this question: Who’s working to get you, your family, and your community the broadband access you’re going to need in the future? Vote accordingly, vote in your interest. Your schools, your healthcare, your farm, the small businesses that dot the countryside, and, the businesses that need to be invented in your communities — all need broadband to prosper.
Why can’t this problem become an opportunity? Why not incentivize private companies to invest in rural technology infrastructure? I don’t want this to be a government service, but any port in the storm. Wasn’t this done years ago to bring electricity to every home in America? Isn’t this part of what made us, for a long time, the most modern country in the world? This challenge was addressed by Congress in 1936 as part of the New Deal and it worked both as a lifestyle improvement and also as stimulus for the economy. Why can’t we do the modern equivalent now? Why would the USA not lead the world in web access? We don’t by the way, not even close. The UK, Canada, France, Sweden, Australia — and 23 more countries — all beat the USA for percentage of web penetration. We’re second to the Chinese in total numbers, but the USA is #28 in availability. Sad statistic, particularly if we want to encourage start-ups in the countryside.
Nearly every start-up, particularly in remote areas, let alone small cities, relies on fast web access. In a lot of rural places — large geographic areas — fast access is woefully bad. People resort to using cellular phones to do email and web browsing. Or driving 20 minutes to a town to use the library or a a restaurants Wifi. The wonderful world of Netflix — fagedaboutit.
It’s assumed (by many who live in cities) that everybody who is willing to pay can get fast web access. Not so, there are plenty of places in this country that have no decent option for fast access. Rural areas these days are lucky to get a digital phone line, let alone web access, as the days of Ma Bell taking care of everyone are long over. Rural folks have a solution for television (services like Dish Network) but satellite web access is expensive and slow (AT&T’s Wild Blue/Excede). Wild Blue/Excede limits downloads and has severe penalties for going over the limit (they’ll cut you off).
Of course, big companies like AT&T and Comcast could care less about areas with low population densities. Comcast won’t put a cable down your road if there aren’t at least 20 paying customers per mile (that’s my guess). AT&T is avoiding upgrading POTS service in rural areas because it’s expensive and it’s a long term payoff. Local governments are smart enough to insist on getting cable access in the village, but they often neglect the farmers just one mile out of town. Often the cable company is required by franchise agreements to put lines in remote areas — but are allowed to get away without doing so.
Can I remind you that advanced things get invented in rural America?
Philo Farnsworth, son of an Idaho potato farmer, came up with the key invention that enabled television — the video camera tube. There is enormous entrepreneurial opportunity out in the sticks, not just because of the talent, but the abundant natural resources. As we rethink energy and food production, and as recycling becomes a way of life, I can tell you that the innovative solutions we seek involve rural assets and people.
So, this is a simple appeal to both business and to government. Invest in rural technology infrastructure, first and foremost, broadband access. It will pay off in both the short and long run in more start-ups and job generating innovation out where the air is fresh.
On a local and personal note — Hey Fred Upton — so how about doing something for us out in the rural areas of Berrien county! Michiana needs better broadband. Why aren’t you working to get the National Broadband Plan, flawed as it is, implemented? I wonder if candidate Paul Clements would take up this issue if he got elected?