Introduction

The Knight Center of Digital Excellence (KCoDE) is using a stage-gate approach in its measurement of broadband adoption by the 26 Knight communities across the United States. Our integrated approach leverages objective, subjective and activity-based indicators to rate the existing infrastructure, practices, access, on-going/planned initiatives, outcomes, and position relative to other Knight communities. Recognizing there is no ‘cookie-cutter’ approach that meets the needs of the 26 Knight communities, and that detailed, high quality coverage maps for broadband through commercial carriers do not exist, the KCoDE’s approach combines the flexibility of incorporating custom community requirements with both subjective and objective mechanisms to cost-effectively gauge broadband adoption and impact.

It must also be remembered that the mission of the KCoDE is built around enhancing the economic and civic futures for the citizens living in Knight communities, and that actions taken (or not taken) today will have positive or negative returns for decades to come. Digital inclusion, e-Government, economic development and the ability of the public, non-profit, education and healthcare sectors to cost-effectively deliver superior services are of utmost importance. In addition, the commercial and small business sectors have to enjoy conditions that allow them to deliver jobs which increase a community’s standard of living and tax base. Today, this increasingly depends on the level of broadband access and adoption: the ability to exchange large amounts of information in ‘real-time’ with the larger world.

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