Internet Access Delivers $32 Billion of Benefits to Us

A 2009 study has estimated that actual worth ofsix times since 2001. In 2008, about 66.6 million
benefits brought about by broadband Internethouseholds were having regular broadband
access to Americans reached more than $32Internet connection, from just about 10.4 million
billion in 2008. The research, conducted byhouseholds in 2001. The drastic rise is very
industry experts Robert Willig, Mark Dutz, andobvious. No other emerging technology has been
Jonathan Orszag, was aimed at quantifying andwarmly accepted in American households like
scaling the actual usefulness and advantages ofbroadband Internet access. Dial-up and other
fast online connectivity to most regular Internetinferior Internet access connections were even
users. It was based on the observation thatexcluded in the figure.
almost all important transactions could now beIn line with this, the American Recovery and
facilitated online.Reinvestment Plan has allotted $7.2 billion for
The $32 billion figure was derived throughfurther development and improvement of the
considering several important factors. It wascurrent broadband Internet infrastructure in the
found that actual valuation imposed by consumerscountry. The body has entrusted the amount to
to their broadband services totaled $60 billion.the US Federal Communications Commission,
From the figure, actual amount of access costswhich is currently developing its massive national
for the year was deducted, which was $28 billion.broadband strategy. The project is aimed at
The $32 billion figure is obviously significant andfurthering empowering the government to
enormous.establish a partnership with private sector in
Findings of the study and the estimate revealshelping deliver better, faster, and more reliable
that broadband Internet access is currentlyInternet access to more household across the US.
considered a basic necessity among US citizens.The proponents of the study asserted that the
Many households now consider Internetresearch was able to meet its goals, which was
connection as among the necessary utilities. This isto quantify recent growth in value of broadband
not surprising because as mentioned, almost allInternet access, as seen and perceived by
important transactions could be facilitated throughAmerican consumers and users. The study was
the Internet. People could now shop, reservethe first one that dealt with this quantification. The
tickets, do research, get entertainment, and do$32 billion estimate for annual Internet access
almost anything imaginable online.benefits to consumers is expected to further rise
What are the basic benefits from Internet accessin the coming years.
aside from those mentioned? Consumers find theMany analysts and observers note that Internet
online media beneficial especially when they areaccess and infrastructure in the US is not as
transacting for education, work, health care,developed and as strong as its counterparts in
communication, news, civic affairs, andcertain countries in Europe. However, because of
entertainment. In fact, many companies are nowthe fact that Americans are heavy Internet
heavily investing to further strengthen their onlineusers, market observers believe the US
market foothold. This is because almost allgovernment would not let local Internet
significant businesses are now online, as manyinfrastructure lag behind. This of course is good
consumers now prefer to transact businessesnews to most American consumers who are into
online as well.using broadband Internet access for basic
The same research has found that adoption oftransactions.
home broadband services has increased to about