Obama to meet with small business owners to discuss internet

2/11/2011

President Barack Obama is expected to meet with small business owners in Marquette, Michigan, on Thursday to discuss the quality of broadband internet and how entrepreneurs can use the technology to improve their companies, the Wall Street Journal reports.

As the source notes, broadband internet was a key point in Obama's State of the Address speech in January. He promised his administration would help increase the availability of wireless broadband to 98 percent of all Americans before 2016.

"Broadband-adoption rates among small businesses are already as high as 90 [percent], according to a congressional study conducted last year by the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy," the paper explains. "Indeed, less than 2 [percent] of 425 owners surveyed nationwide said broadband service wasn’t available to them, the majority located in rural areas."

With greater access to commercial loans, many businesses are now able to update the technology that powers there operations. Entrepreneurs should consider investing in faster internet connections if it is a integral to their operations.