Broadband Leader Says ‘relevancy’ Is Key

Sam Walls, President of Connect Arkansas, says "relevancy" is the key to getting more Arkansans interested in broadband Internet.

Appearing on this week’s edition of Talk Business, Walls explained how recent survey research shows that less educated and lower income citizens don’t see the relevancy that high-speed Internet access has to improve their personal and professional lives.

"In terms of the issues of relevancy and adoption, it is both a rural and an urban problem," said Walls, whose organization maps and promotes broadband access throughout the state.

But he contends that other factors – such as age, income level and education – can be powerful, too. Those over 35 are less likely to adopt broadband access. Citizens without college degrees or those making under $25,000 are also less likely to understand the ability of high-speed Internet access to provide quality of life and economic opportunities.

Walls wants to change this finding.

"We are doing this through applications," he said. "There are certain businesses we’re getting into in terms of using the Internet for particular applications that will cause citizens to go to our web sites in order to get things that are of interest to them and in the process of doing that, drive the relevancy issue."

Connect Arkansas’ recent survey shows that broadband usage is on the rise in the state, but other states have also shown progress. Some key findings:

• 92% feel that the Internet is a valuable source for information and education.
• 68% have high-speed Internet access at home or work, up from 42% in 2007.
• 56% view high-speed internet as a luxury in relation to other utilities.
• 55% who are not current subscribers to high-speed internet say they don’t need it.
• 30% use their cell phones or other mobile devices to access the Internet.
• For 14% of Arkansans, a mobile device is their only means of Internet access.

Walls said that Arkansans must accelerate their usage of broadband to gain economic advantages. Connect Arkansas is set to embark on a major marketing campaign to raise awareness of broadband’s power to do this, and in Walls’ opinion, hopefully increase demand for private sector high-speed Internet investment throughout the state.

You can watch his full interview below.