Washington, Massachusetts, Delaware get progressive about broadband

If you're looking to find states that encourage the use of broadband, look no further than Washington, Massachusetts and Delaware.

According to a new study by TechNet, an independent trade group, these three states have made a diligent effort to not just promote the use of broadband, but also to provide "a broadband-friendly business climate."

The study points out that these states lead the TechNet's State Broadband Index on three main criteria: broadband adoption, network quality and segments of the state's economy supporting broadband.

Among the study's findings was that states which have built up broadband infrastructure find that it becomes a critical criteria on where businesses will locate new offices.

Already the home of both Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) and Amazon (Nasdaq: AMZN), Washington has become an attractive high-tech hub for a number of emerging mobile app developers. Massachusetts boasts a large contingency of universities such as MIT as well as technology companies that use high speed broadband services, while the large number of corporate headquarters located in Delaware has driven the demand for greater network quality from Verizon (NYSE: VZ) and other area service providers.   

Rey Ramsey, TechNet's president and CEO, said states "want to attract more companies," but "If you don't have broadband infrastructure, you're not going to play in the 21st-century economy."

Although Missouri did not top the list, Google Fiber's move into Kansas City, Mo., has become an attraction for businesses and consumers alike. According to a survey from Ideas & Solutions! Inc, 60 percent of the qualified population in Kansas City is interested in taking the service.

On the low end of the broadband scale were New Mexico, Louisiana, Hawaii, Alaska and Arkansas.

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