Studying the impact of broadband internet access in rural and remotes communities in BC
Broadband is important in remote and rural communities - research study shows ...
A team of researchers working out of Simon Fraser University is now completing its first year of a five year research initiative that will hopefully lead to a better understanding about the impact of broadband internet access in rural and remotes communities.
This past week, they presented their preliminary findings at the ICT Summit 2009 conference in Vancouver. The following information is from their presentation that can be seen at http://neuf.cprost.sfu.ca/foundations/presentations/ICTSummit2009.pdf. For more information about this study visit their web site at http://neuf.cprost.sfu.ca/foundations
Purpose of the Study
• Study the impact of broadband in 151 remote and rural communities
– Education, Health, Culture and Language
– Social Capital, Economic benefits
– Delivery of Government Services
• We want to see these factors 'holistically' because we do not believe they are discrete.
Output of the Study
• Study is designed to be a five year, longitudinal study
• Our purpose is to develop a methodology to track changes over time
• On March 31 we will have a baseline of impacts to track over the next 4 years
What weʼve done
• Combine these methods:
• Case Studies (e.g., Bamfield, Kaslo/Meadow Creek, Lytton)
• Over 200 interviews
• Survey (600 respondents from 91 communities)
• Internet traffic reports from 41 communities (aggregated, not at the individual level)
Context
• Many communities facing economic challenges (e.g., population decline)
• Some communities' broadband projects face technical/economic/geographical/human resource problems
• Some have advanced implementation while others are just starting
Overview of findings from the survey
• Feeling of increased empowerment over health outcomes through access to health information
• Access to education provides more learning options
• Better speed means more connection to the outside world – enriching life
• Better access/speed means the capacity to work more efficiently and improve economic situation (jobs created!)
• Lessening of feeling of isolation
• Better access to government services
• No significant reporting of negative impacts
Strengthening community
• Almost 90% of those surveyed use the internet to keep in touch with what is happening in their community
• Two thirds use the internet to tell others about community activities.
• For over a fifth of our sample, the presence of broadband was a factor in whether or not they moved to the community or decided to stay. For 13% it was a significant factor.
Summary of survey results
• Respondents using broadband extensively
• Respondents enthusiastic about benefits
• Key benefits valued:
– Health, Education, Improving business
– Connecting to family, friends, interests
– Saving trips to town (smaller carbon footprint)
• Respondents highly appreciative of broadband access
Contact
• Foundation for the Future Project:
• http://neuf.cprost.sfu.ca/foundations
• Contact Ellen Godfrey
» 250 477 2817
» ellen@ellengodfrey.com
» smith@sfu.ca