Technology and Society Implications of Essay

al.). The greatest benefit of implementing a national broadband plan is that it will significantly raise the educational levels of students, as they will have e-learning and online teaching materials available to them. Their teachers and schools will have an enriched learning experience that will allow for individualized instruction that will also lead to many of these students graduating from high school. It has been shown throughout U.S. Census data that dropout rates correlate to per capita income levels of specific regions, with lower-income areas generating the highest rates of high school dropout percentages (Heckman, LaFontaine, 244). Having broadband accessible to these students will give them the chance to break the cycle of poverty that keeps high dropout rates in place. Using broadband for teaching trades in high school for example will give these students and their families a chance to rise out of poverty.

Second, the implementation of a countrywide broadband plan will also provide a strong foundation for economic growth. From the jobs advertised online only through monster.com and individual job company sites to the state- and federally-funded job banks that are only available online, broadband access will be a catalyst of those in poorer areas who do not have service today a chance to find jobs. In addition to making job hunting and finding employment easier, the build-out of a national broadband infrastructure will also make entirely new business models possible. Add in the capability to enable widespread mobile e-commerce (m-commerce) and the competitiveness of American businesses will increase.

Third, a national broadband plan will make it easier for small businesses to have a more competitive position in not just local but also global markets. A national broadband infrastructure would enable larger companies to completely redefine the more costly processes and systems that drain them of profits today, with the need for huge office buildings being a major one. Instead of spending tens of millions of dollars a year on a building, investing that in R&D and having a virtual workforce could quickly lead to profitability gains.

Fourth, it would also significantly cut back on the carbon emissions and dependence on oil this nation has. Telecommuting's many benefits are seen in not just the sustainability and reduction in carbon emissions and pollution, but drastically cutting our dependence on foreign oil. Strategically this is critical for the country right now as offshore drilling is likely to be completely halted after BPs' glacially slow response to the recent oil spill. If the current events are put into context of how to avert their hidden costs for the long-term, a national broadband plan seems overdue.

References

Crossman, J., D. Wagle, and J. Wilkins. "Broadband: Improving access. " the McKinsey Quarterly 3 (2009): 59.

Ford, G., L. Spiwak, and M. Stern. "Expanding the Digital Divide: Network Management Regulations and the Size of Providers. " SSRN Working Paper Series: 1 -- 18.

Heckman, J., and P. LaFontaine. "THE AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE: TRENDS and LEVELS. " the Review of Economics and Statistics 92.2 (2010): 244.

Kirby, P., and T. Gotsch. "In FY 2011 Budget, Obama Administration Again Pushes Spectrum Proposals, Seeks Spending Hikes for FCC, NTIA. " Telecommunications Reports 15 Feb. 2010

Meneses, J., and J. Momino. "Putting Digital Literacy in Practice: How Schools Contribute to Digital Inclusion in the Network Society. " Information Society 26.3 (2010): 197-208.

A Brief History of the Rural Electric and Telephone Programs at a-1 (1982), http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/70th/rea-history.pdf (last visited May 29, 2010) (a Brief…