That good country air: The emergence of rural community wireless networks in the United States [electronic resource]
Saved in:
| Online Access: |
Online Access |
|---|---|
| Main Author: | |
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis Electronic eBook |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2007.
|
| Subjects: |
| Abstract: | Despite the increasing importance of broadband internet access in today's society, the availability and affordability of residential broadband access in the United States remains uneven due to many factors, a significant one being geographic location in rural areas. This research examines the emergence of small-scale, local wireless access strategies, commonly called community wireless networks (CWNs), and the extent to which they provide broadband access to under-serviced rural areas. Specifically, the following three questions are addressed: How many community wireless networks are providing service to rural areas? Are there socioeconomic patterns in the demographics of the rural areas being serviced by these networks? What are the differences, if any, between urban and rural networks? These questions were investigated through a national survey of CWNs and demographic analysis of their service areas. While CWNs were found to be equally located in both rural and urban areas, there are enough significant differences between urban and rural networks to suggest two diverging network models. There were no significant demographic patterns found within the rural service areas based on age, income or education level; although proximity to universities and colleges may be a possible catalyst for CWNs. The consistent, shared growth rate of these CWNs despite a diversity of locations and strategies suggests that further collaboration and support between CWNs and from telecommunication policy-makers would be a valuable and constructive step towards affordable, universal broadband access in the United States. |
|---|---|
| Item Description: | Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 46-02, page: 0702. Adviser: Kenneth E. Foote. |
| Physical Description: | 89 pages. |
| ISBN: | 9780549254027 |