Culture, Broadband and Economic Development Go Hand in Hand

Published: Jan. 23, 2014, 7 p.m.

The intersect between culture, broadband and economic development is important, and\xa0about to become more so as the Top 7 Intelligent Communities in the world are unveiled today by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF). This international cast\xa0offers best practices in creating competitive local economies capable of excelling in a global broadband economy.\xa0\n\nArlington County, VA and Columbus, OH made it to the Top 7 this year, and will attend ICF's June conference where the Intelligent Community of the Year (the best ofthe best) will be selected after special presentations from the seven communities.\xa0\n\nIf you are\xa0harnessing broadband to boost economic development, the\xa0community's culture forms the launch pad for every program and project. Learn how culture\xa0provides\xa0intangible assets needed for success, determines how readily new ideas are accepted,\xa0educates constituents about their role in the new economy, and enables\xa0constituents to\xa0persuasively articulate the broadband vision. \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\n\nICF Co-Founder Robert Bell joins us to describe some of \xa0the\xa0broadband best practices that raised the Top 7 above hundreds of other communities worldwide. He also gives listeners tips on how they can assess and leverage their local cultures to help make broadband an economic engine.