The Relationship Between Economic Well Being and Gigabit Broadband Penetration

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between gigabit broadband network penetration (GBNP) and the economic well-being in Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) in the United States. The literature highlights the colloquial examples of how gigabit connectivity has impacted MSA economies, the governance structure, and the economic indicators of a local economic health. Variables in the analysis were separated into four categories: time, geographic, economic, and employment. Data was collected from the FCC Form 477, US Census Bureau ACS 5 year estimates, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis between the years 2011 and 2014. A descriptive analysis explored the statistical relationships between the selected factors. Results showed that the time variable, selected economic variables, and selected employment variables all show positive relationships with GBNP. The study offers the opportunity for future research to build off of in order to comprehensively answer the question about the relationship between economic well-being and GBNP.