But the time frame to have an impact is significantly longer than enhancing broadband and the costs are far far higher too.

Investing in broadband is investing business infastructure the same way that roads (or even a competitive tax system) is an investment in business infastructure. It’s hard not to think that rural Broad band will help rural businesses become more competitive, could be instrumental in opening markets and thereby expanding employment.

Broadband can also help the environment – reducing the requirment to commute – if linked to programs to address some to the social issues around “tele-working”, and broadening the pool of available talent for companies already experienced with a distributed work force.

The latter is also important to rural areas which can be attractive to older knowledge workers but cannot be considered without broadband access. A migration out of the cities to rural areas (however small) also helps the tax base of rural area.

Given the cost, speed to impliment, and the impact broadband can have – especially on rural communities I think Chambers is on to something. I just with that someone else was promoting the idea – because of the optics.