The internet has changed the way people access information, shop, work and view entertainment. Today, access to high volume data transfer rates has become a key requirement for economic and community development. Access to broadband is determined by the advanced telecommunications capability benchmark as defined by the FCC. The existing benchmark speed is 25 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload.
To calculate the percentage of households served by broadband, census blocks were analyzed to see if they met the FCC’s advanced broadband benchmark. Households in census blocks that met the FCC’s advanced broadband criteria households were aggregated and then divided by the total number of households in a county to calculate the percentage of households served by broadband internet.
It is important to recognize that while broadband may be available for a household to purchase, the cost may prohibit having an actual broadband subscription. This measure shows only the percentage of households that could have broadband access.
Public transit is an essential service for those who do not or cannot drive. It allows individuals without a private means of transportation to remain connected in their communities, reach jobs, access medical care and meet other basic needs.
Public transit is particularly important in rural communities where travel distances to services are greater, thereby making alternatives, such as bicycles, generally impractical for most residents.
Historically, vehicle miles traveled has been closely related to economic productivity. As the income and population increase, there is a corresponding increase in trips to access goods and services, and an increase in commercial traffic.
Furthermore, VMT may be a consideration in planning and maintenance of road infrastructure, as well as treating vehicle-related pollution.
This measure tracks the conversion and designation of land for human purposes. This shift changes the provision of ecosystem services such as climate regulation, natural hazard regulation, water purification and waste management, pollination or pest control. It also can indicate economic growth in a county
Mobile homes are an often maligned but important source of affordable housing. They represent the largest segment of non-subsidized affordable housing in the United States. These homes, whether single or double wide, provide low-cost housing for millions of Americans, who most often own their mobile home and lease the land it sits on.
While mobile homes do present a range of challenges, they also provide housing opportunities for individuals and families experiencing economic hardship, and they have the potential to develop microcommunities when mobile housing is clustered in park