A rising tide: Measuring the economic effects of broadband use across California

Abstract

This research estimates the economic effects of broadband use across 39 California counties between 2001 and 2006. Broadband usage data are obtained from household surveys that identify how individuals access the Internet: through dial-up or broadband, where broadband is defined as Internet access through cable modem or digital subscriber line (DSL). The surveys were conducted in California counties twice each year from 2001 to 2006. Estimates from panel regression analysis demonstrate that increased broadband use within California has had a positive and significant effect on growth in employment and total payroll. © 2008.