Regional and Rural Broadband Policy and Programming

Abstract

Higher speed broadband services are considered as fundamental requirement for digital economy. Availability and usability of internet connected applications is now demanding more bandwidth and capacity in broadband services. Rural people are not excluded from this wave of usage. Focusing on SW Ontario, my research project will employ continuously updated datasets and develops and conducts outcome analysis for public broadband investment, primarily with partners in the Southwest Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) network. The research will combine empirical research methods with an underlying action research process recommended by relevant literature that encourages analytical tools and findings for relevant stakeholders. The research will advance existing efforts to conduct collaborative, well-structured and systematically updated quantitative data analysis for reporting on opportunities and obstacles in current and prospective digital economy infrastructure, applications and adoption in SW Ontario. This analysis will inform evidence-based policy and decision making in various governments. This research will also support other agri-food/rural related policy and programming focused on specific digital investments including identifying connectivity for new ICT applications useful for cost-savings in rural public services or 'next generation' agri-food network technologies (e.g. Precision agriculture research). Health and education sector applications are also relevant. This analysis will support job growth and economic benefits in rural Ontario.