Tech-savvy workers will need good broadband
Dear editor,
I am as excited as everyone that new business might be coming to town and agree we sorely need it.
New technical businesses will attract eager young technically trained workers. Many of them will be Millennials.
This generation no longer subscribes to traditional paid television services like Dish Network or DirecTV. They thrive on the internet. Their entertainment comes from YouTube, Twitch, Sling and a plethora of social platforms that many of my fellow citizens are likely unfamiliar with.
They forego the cost of television to afford the best internet service in their area. Therein lies the problem for us if we want to attract them to Rockdale.
There is no broadband internet access at all within the city of Rockdale. The FCC defines broadband as 25Mbps downstream and 3Mbps upstream. Our telco equipment in town is quite dated and the fastest DSL service available for most of Rockdale is “up to” 5Mbps.
Our cable provider upgraded our equipment to offer 15Mbps service but is usually less than 3Mbps. It will measure out at 14.25Mbps if you check it at 7 a.m. before you leave for work, but will not when you return home. There is some fixed wireless available, but it is nowhere near the definition of broadband and quite expensive.
These are things young workers check before they rent or purchase a house because it’s important to them. Broadband is integrated into their daily routine and social lives. This will prompt them to purchase homes elsewhere.
It would behoove our community leaders to build on the great work they have done by also attracting the actual workforce and their families to join us in Rockdale.
There was a trend in recent years that I was able to work with a large staff locally for new folks to buy houses in places like Round Rock instead of here.
One of the factors in their decision was cheap high-speed internet that simply does not exist here. I would hate to see history repeat itself.
Sincerely,
Jody Pelzel
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