کد مقاله کد نشریه سال انتشار مقاله انگلیسی نسخه تمام متن
4973305 1365478 2017 14 صفحه PDF دانلود رایگان
عنوان انگلیسی مقاله ISI
Evaluation of USDA's Broadband Loan Program: Impacts on broadband provision
موضوعات مرتبط
مهندسی و علوم پایه مهندسی کامپیوتر سیستم های اطلاعاتی
پیش نمایش صفحه اول مقاله
Evaluation of USDA's Broadband Loan Program: Impacts on broadband provision
چکیده انگلیسی
Since 2002 the USDA's Broadband Loan Program has directed more than $1.8 billion in subsidized loans to help expand broadband access in under-served rural communities. Program eligibility criteria included having a population of 20,000 or fewer, having no prior access to broadband, and providing a minimum matching contribution of 15% by recipients of the loan. Loans were extended mainly to small telecommunications services firms at varying (subsidized) interest rates. We evaluate on the effectiveness of the Loan Program in increasing broadband availability in target locations. Specifically, we analyze whether loan receipt increases the number of broadband providers in a particular location, using various count panel methods. Our analysis is conducted at the ZIP code level over the period 1999-2008; it uses broadband provider data from the FCC's Form 477, and loan data from the Rural Utility Service (the implementing agency for the Broadband Loan Program). Results indicate that ZIP codes receiving broadband loans did in fact experience modest, statistically significant increases in the number of broadband providers vis-à-vis non-recipient locations; that average marginal effects on treated ZIP codes were approximately 0.092 additional broadband providers annually; and that these benefits accrued more towards rural locations than urban locations, in conformance with the intent of the program.
ناشر
Database: Elsevier - ScienceDirect (ساینس دایرکت)
Journal: Telecommunications Policy - Volume 41, Issue 2, March 2017, Pages 140-153
نویسندگان
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