Graham Richard, America's Broadband Mayor Meets with WiredWest in Boston

Graham Richard, Mayor of Ft Wayne Indiana and nationally known advocate for "big broadband" as a driver of economic growth, met with leaders of WiredWest, a community owned fiber initiative in western Massachusetts, to talk about his experiences in Ft. Wayne when in 2005 they build a fiber optic broadband network. He discusses the impact on Ft Wayne's economy, how job creation was enhanced and his experiences consulting with other communities on broadband as a driver of economic development.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• FTTH
• FTTP
• economic development
• job creation
• fiber optic internet
• economic growth
• WiredWest
• community owned broadband
• broadband economic stimulus

[norfolk161]

That's absolutely right. And especially important in rural areas like western Massachusetts where the old factory-based economy was long ago dismantled and has yet to be replaced with anything viable. WiredWest believes a fiber optic broadband network has the potential to transform our economy. Home based businesses would be a very important component in this revitalization.

[CanAmFam]

The increased revenue for home-based businesses as a result of having access to a fiber network is especially compelling.