POLK COUNTY BROADBAND PLAN
Figure 3. Areas of Greatest Broadband Need
Future Demand
Anchor Institutions and Businesses
Broadband demand is expected to increase in all industry sectors and for all types of Community Anchor
Institutions. Local governments will require more sophisticated broadband technology as government services
and processes become more fully electronic. Healthcare facilities will require greater bandwidth as medical
technology advances and remote diagnosis becomes more prevalent, especially in rural areas. Libraries will need
more advanced broadband capabilities as e-books become more prevalent and internet access becomes more
essential for the entire population. Schools will require better broadband access in order to prepare students to
compete in an interconnected global economy, and colleges and universities will need higher broadband capacity
to transfer data for research. Public safety agencies will require enhanced broadband access in order to keep
improving the safety of communities as the population continues to grow. And as the economy becomes more
globalized, businesses in Polk County will need better broadband access in order to advertise their products and
services, connect with customers, and compete robustly amongst other regions of the country and the world.
Residents
Polk County’s population is projected to grow 16 percent by 2020 and 52 percent by 2040. As the population
continues to grow and internet access becomes more essential for all sectors of the population, residential
broadband demand in Polk County can