Panel presentation to the Governor's Northwoods Economic Development Conference 2015 University Wisconsin-Extension Broadband & E-Commerce Education Center.

1. Catalyzing Community Change
through Broadband
UWEX Broadband & E-Commerce Education Center
A Fluid and Critical 21st Century Issue

2. Broadband
What We Know…
Utilization
Availability
Adoption
Utilization

3. Partnerships to figure it out
Public and Private

4. People make it happen!
UWEX County Economic
Development Agents &
Community Partners

5. Coordination, Education & Resources
• PSC/UWEX Broadband Resource Guide
• Broadband Policies & Regulations: A
Beginning Roadmap
• Regional Broadband Boot Camps with
Providers
• UWEX Broadband Adoption Advisory Board
• DNR/UWEX Collaboration

6. Rural E-Commerce Pilots
Lessons Learned:
 Wide range of
knowledge
 Topics are relevant
 Pitch is accurate
 Trainers are good
 Hands-on is key
 Basic barriers to
entry
 Group training +
Consultation
 Training is Needed!
2: Pilots
6: Counties
15+: Industries
106: Trainees

7. E-Commerce Training Results
Utilization vs. AR/KS/NC/NE rural SME
• 74% have a website (vs. 77%)
• 45% sell online (vs. 56%)
• 56% do eMarketing (vs. 62%)
• 55% do online customer service (vs.
66%)
• 35% use online collaboration (vs. 59%)
Very Important Barriers vs. AR/KS/NC/NE SME
• 40% lack expertise (vs. 19%)
• 30% security concerns (vs. 41%)
• 22% privacy concerns (vs. 30%)
• 20% cost of development (vs. 18%)
• 18% products not suited (vs. 15%)
Average DEi Score is 5.3
77 businesses competed assessments - Ashland, Bayfield, Clark, Oneida, Vilas, Wood
• 84% under 10 employees - 21% in Retail Trade
• Average DEi of 5.3 – typical rural average is 6.4 (AR/KS/NC/NE; under 50 employees)
• Expertise issues are critical barriers for 30% and challenging for another 30-40%

8. “This is a very valuable
topic and is just what we
need in rural Wisconsin.”