Business Week has an interesting and thoughtful article about how Internet-enabled voluntary collaboration is changing the rules of business, mostly for the better. It cites a wealth of examples, from the company that cut its $2000/month long distance bill by 90% to Proctor and Gamble, which is leveraging outside the company innovation to save money and develop new products.
This article is a good sign, because it is focuses on the outcomes of broadband, rather than the stuff of broadband. Customers--that is, us--don't really care about how broadband gets into our homes and businesses. We don't really care whether it is fiber or wireless or free space optics. We want affordable broadband, and we want as much as we need. But the benefits are what the Business Week article discusses--what we are doing with it. And the article should make it crystal clear to economic developers that broadband is a critical issue if your job depends on creating jobs and attracting businesses--broadband is a business essential. Anyone who thinks otherwise is headed fast down the wrong road.