Broadband Deployment as Technological Innovation: Assessing the Needs of Anchor Institutions

High-speed broadband facilitates a vast number of beneficial applications such as voice over internet protocol (VoIP), streaming media, gaming, online government and business services, and other interactive services that require high data transmission rates. While high speed broadband is purported to lead ultimately to social and economic development, a coherent proactive national policy regarding the development and use of broadband infrastructure in rural and underserved areas has been slow to appear in the U.S. The FCC’s recent mandate to develop a National Broadband Plan and the $7.2 billion in funds specified in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) for broadband deployment and build-out indicates a significant shift in federal government policy to supporting broadband deployment. As the federal funding increases, local community anchor institutions such as public libraries, schools, and medical facilities will be looked to as drivers of successful deployment and adoption of broadband to local communities. The purpose of this paper is to identify and discuss issues associated with large-scale technological innovations with emphasis on the widespread adoption of high-speed broadband by community anchor institutions. This will include the evaluation of and planning for broadband expansion and implementation. A case study of public libraries in Florida serves to highlight the means used to assess broadband adoption and implementation issues in community anchor institutions. By examining the factors that assist anchor institutions in deploying large-scale broadband projects, this paper also seeks to identify issues and opportunities for iSchools to play a role in assisting anchor institutions with successful deployment of broadband projects.