Quebral, Nora C. (author / Professor, Institute of Development Communication, College of Agriculture, University of Philippines at Los Banos) and Professor, Institute of Development Communication, College of Agriculture, University of Philippines at Los Banos
Format:
Book
Publication Date:
1988
Published:
Philippines
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C03677
Notes:
James F. Evans Collection; Contains Table of Contents and Forward only, Laguna, Philippines : College of Agriculture, University of Philippines at Los Banos, 1988. 179 p.
James F. Evans Collection, Development reporting in 14 rural Georgia weekly newspapers is examined, and the extent and manner of development news in these newspapers are compared with results from previously published studies of development news in other countries. The data indicate that the rural Georgia newspapers tend to devote less space to development news, to emphasize physical facilities development more and to quote or portray government sources less. These results are interpreted as indicating a need for more attention to development communication in local media in rural areas of the United States. (original)
13pgs, Sufficient access to and utilization of broadband is an ongoing concern for rural economic development. Using a rural region in Northern New York (USA), we consider the investment and operational costs of a broadband cooperative and determine service prices for which it is financially viable. Service prices need to increase 75%–131%, depending on grant restrictions, relative to existing market prices for a new broadband cooperative to become financially feasible. Put differently, the cooperative would not cash flow at market prices unless there was at least 14 potential subscribers per mile at a 62% take rate. For a cooperative, the grant restriction that providers offer a minimum level of speed at a maximum price results in a high level of subsidization by high-speed to low-speed members to support the business. Given grant funding and member equity investments, financial infeasibility has little to do with construction costs, than with annual operational and maintenance costs required to sustain the system long term. More reasonable feasibility scenarios occur for existing utility cooperatives expanding services into broadband, particularly areas with a high proportion of high-speed, year-round users and strong take rates. Consideration of public benefits of broadband arguably needs to be added to the equation, particularly surrounding access to healthcare and educational purposes, and as a prerequisite to supporting taxpayer-funded public-private partnerships to expand broadband services. Policy levers to eliminate or subsidize property taxes and pole rental costs reduce cash flow prices considerably; however, feasibility is highly sensitive to assumed take rates.
