Idaho Broadband Advisory Board (IBAB) Strategic Plan

Key Points:

• Vision to provide affordable and reliable broadband infrastructure by 2027
• Focus on closing the digital divide and addressing access, affordability, and adoption issues
• Prioritization of unserved and underserved locations for broadband deployment
• Emphasis on public safety and communications infrastructure

Small Business Perspective:

The IBAB Strategic Plan's failure to mention, focus on, or benefit small businesses under 20 employees in rural Idaho is not merely an oversight, but a glaring omission given the scale of investment. The absence of even token initiatives or "lip service" to small business support suggests that rural small businesses are entirely outside the strategic vision of the plan. This omission is particularly troubling given that small businesses are often the backbone of rural economies.

Big Business Perspective:

The IBAB Strategic Plan demonstrates a 100% focus on initiatives that primarily benefit big businesses and out-of-state corporations. The emphasis on large-scale infrastructure projects without corresponding support for local utilization suggests that the primary beneficiaries will be large telecommunications companies and corporations looking to tap into rural labor markets for remote work. The plan appears to be more about spending federal money and attracting big business than about fostering local economic development.

Rural Impact:

The IBAB Strategic Plan's approach to rural broadband development risks turning rural Idaho into a digital highway without vehicles to travel it. The lack of specific strategies to leverage broadband for local economic development suggests that rural communities may become mere conduits for big business interests rather than beneficiaries of the technology. The plan's failure to address how broadband will be used to create meaningful, local economic opportunities represents a significant oversight that could lead to the erosion of rural Idaho's economic diversity and self-sufficiency. Furthermore, the plan fails to articulate how improved connectivity will enhance the quality of life for rural Idahoans who don't own businesses, such as through improved access to education, healthcare, or government services.