There has been much discussion recently on the topic of broadband rollout and the positive impact this could have on economic growth and employment. The latter is a serious subject in a country with an official unemployment rate of 25.6 percent. Since that figure includes only people actively seeking employment, many believe the unemployment situation to be far worse.

There is evidence that when municipalities roll out broadband networks to offer services to its citizens, as well as allow access to spare capacity, there is a positive effect on the economy. One example often cited is that of Lake County, in the US state of Florida. Lake County started offering a municipal broadband network in 2001. Studies have indicated that the economic growth in Lake County since then has been twice that of its neighbours without broadband networks.