Place Design creates economic prosperity when people and businesses are attracted to public assets. Entrepreneurs find inspiration in communities with a strong sense of place. Consumers like to spend time in communities and at businesses with unique character. When given a choice, people choose to live in communities that appeal to them. Employers and investors move to these communities because smart people are doing innovative things in communities where they are inspired.
The concept of Place is easy to understand when one reflects on places like Venice, Paris or San Francisco. We have a visceral sense of the public character of these places. It doesn’t need to be explained. Place Design, however, is about more than exciting downtowns and green space. Place Design involves any public good that is more attractive to people, that causes them to live, invest and spend time in a community. In this light, internet speed is a Place Design tool.
INTERNET SPEEDS AND PLACE DESIGN
Public utilities supply a community with electricity, gas, water or sewer. The Federal Communications Commission recently voted to classify internet providers as public utilities. It isn’t necessary to wade into the Net Neutrality debate, which has more national than local significance, to know that fast and affordable internet as a public good can spur economic growth.
Cities with fast Internet will have a better chance of attracting the entrepreneurs that are creating the companies that will drive our economy. Better Internet service will give every business more productivity and efficiency. Residents have easier access to online learning and entertainment when they have fast and affordable Internet.
WHERE DOES KILLEEN STAND?
According to data collected by speedtest.net, the average download speed in Killeen is 15.74 Mbps, compared to a national average of 18.2 Mbps. In general, densely populated areas near either coast tend to have faster speeds. Faster Internet speeds also tend to correlate strongly with the income of a region1.
Recent projects have created pockets of fast and affordable Internet in places that did not previously have it. Google Fiber first launched in Kansas City, MO with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. Currently Google Fiber is also available or launching in Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Nashville, Provo, Raleigh-Durham and Salt Lake City with plans to expand to four more cities soon2.
In Chattanooga, 1,000 Mbps internet is available at every house and business in the city through a 100% fiber network built by their community-owned electric utility provider. According to their website, “Major corporations, technology firms and call centers are using our fiber to build their business. Benefiting from unlimited bandwidth, incredible speeds and local, Chattanooga-focused customer service.”3
WHAT CAN WE DO
First, the Killeen region should identify 1,000 Mbps Internet as an economic development goal. The business community also needs to document the benefits that fast and affordable Internet will bring to this region. Finally, working together can make this a realty.
Think about the impact fast internet could have on local businesses, students and residents. Greater Killeen still has time to get ahead of the curve, as 1,000 Mbps Internet is far from the norm. However, the longer this area waits, the more likely it is that Internet speed will be an economic development disadvantage. Imagine the benefits of being the military community with the fastest and most reliable Internet. The possibilities are remarkable.
Written by Abdul Subhani, Sector Chair of Organizational Development, Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce
Published in the Greater Killeen Business Quarterly 2015 Restaurant & Catering Guide