Why CoreConnect?

High Prices for Local Library

Libraries are critical for communities - providing essential services and safe spaces. As provider of services, and often the only source of broadband access to many individuals, having high-speed connectivity is crucial.

“When we bid out our fiber internet connectivity, as required by e-rate, bids for 1GB service for a 5-year term ranged from $425/month to $1,984/month…and those prices come from major well-known companies. We ultimately went with lower speed plans for all the libraries.” - Jessica Hilburn, Crawford County Federation Library System, System Administrator/CEO

Broadband with Open Access Networks: An Instrument of Economic Growth

Emergency Services

Next Generation 911 and modern emergency services require robust broadband networks that many Pennsylvania communities lack. Without adequate connectivity, first responders can't access critical patient data, building layouts, or hazmat information in real-time - compromising their ability to save lives.

Education

Pennsylvania faces an urgent educational equity crisis driven by insufficient broadband access. The 2020 census shows 61,509 school children with no internet access at all. An even larger number have internet but insufficient speeds.

The consequences are severe: high school coursework increasingly relies on digital access, with students lacking reliable internet showing higher dropout rates and lower academic achievement. This digital divide particularly impacts rural and low-income communities, where infrastructure gaps create insurmountable barriers to academic success.

Testimonials and Case Studies

Broadband acts as a catalyst for economic growth by enhancing productivity, fostering innovation, improving access to education and healthcare, creating jobs, and enabling more efficient markets and government services. It's a foundational infrastructure that supports the economy, much like roads and bridges.

Research indicates that connected communities experience 6.4% higher median household incomes compared to their underserved counterparts. Small businesses in areas with reliable broadband show 15-20% higher revenues than those in areas without adequate connectivity. Furthermore, property values in communities with high-speed internet access are typically 7% higher than similar properties in areas without broadband.

Open Access Network: The Benefits

Greater access to high-speed internet can significantly boost economic activity by facilitating remote work, online business operations, and digital market access. This can lead to job creation, increased local spending, and overall economic growth. Here’s how:

  • Enhanced Business Competitiveness and Attraction:

    • An open access network fosters competition among service providers, which can lead to lower costs for consumers and businesses. This environment can make the region more attractive to new businesses looking for reliable, high-speed internet access, thereby supporting local economic development.

  • Strengthen Education and Close the Gap :

    • By extending broadband to underserved regions, an open access network can help bridge the digital divide, allowing rural areas to participate more fully in the digital economy. This can reduce economic disparities and promote equitable growth across the region.

  • Reduction in Operational Costs for Businesses:

    • With multiple service providers competing on the same infrastructure, businesses can often secure services at lower costs, reducing their operational expenses. This increased efficiency can lead to higher profit margins or reinvestment into business growth.

  • Increased Property Values and Tax Revenues:

    • Studies have shown that access to high-speed internet can enhance property values. This, in turn, can increase property tax revenues for local governments and school districts, providing more funds for community development.

  • Support for Local Innovation and Entrepreneurship:

    • Open access networks democratize access to high-speed internet, which is crucial for startups and small businesses. This environment can nurture innovation by providing the necessary infrastructure for tech-based entrepreneurship.

  • Increased Safety & Security for Residents

    • Emergency response systems increasingly rely on high-speed connectivity for everything from 911 dispatch to real-time data sharing between first responders. In rural Pennsylvania, this gap can mean life-threatening delays in emergency response times.

  • Job Creation from Network Deployment and Maintenance:

    • The construction, operation, and maintenance of an open access network create jobs, both during the initial build-out phase and for ongoing network management, contributing to local employment.

  • Cost Savings on Health and Education Services:

    • Improved broadband can lead to cost savings in healthcare through telemedicine and in education through online learning platforms, reducing travel and infrastructure costs for both sectors.

  • Facilitation of Advanced Agricultural Practices:

    • In a region like Northwest Pennsylvania, where agriculture is significant, better internet access can support precision farming technologies, improving farm efficiency and productivity, which in turn supports the local economy.

  • Long-term Community Benefits:

    • The investment in open access networks can yield long-term benefits by ensuring that communities are well-connected, adaptable to new technologies, and thus more resilient to economic changes.

    These benefits illustrate how an open access network could economically transform Northwest Pennsylvania by making it more connected, competitive, and capable of fostering growth across various sectors.