Societal Implications of Broadband Internet
Much interest in public investment in fiber infrastructure centers on supposed benefits to communities and the economy, but the societal implications of broadband are still an open question in this fast-evolving area. A local project, UC2B (Urbana-Champaign Big Broadband), will deliver “Big Broadband” connections to several thousand households in Champaign and Urbana, with quality that will make new applications possible. Working with UC2B and other projects, Center researchers are working to understand the consequences of fiber infrastructure for education, the economy, health, and community participation. This work also includes imagining the next generation of Internet applications.