Rural broadband speeds and business startup rates

Steven C. Deller, Brian E. Whitacre, Tessa Conroy · 2021 · American Journal of Agricultural Economics

Summary. Using county-level data from 2014, this study examines how broadband speeds affect rural business startup rates across different industries. The researchers find that broadband coverage significantly influences startup activity, with download speeds mattering more than upload speeds. Mobile broadband also plays a role. Importantly, the impact varies by industry type—what drives startups in one sector may not apply to another. The findings confirm that broadband access is increasingly critical for rural entrepreneurship.

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Deller, S. C., Whitacre, B. E., & Conroy, T.. (2021). Rural broadband speeds and business startup rates. American Journal of Agricultural Economics. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajae.12259

@article{deller-2021-rural-broadband-speeds-business-startup,
  title   = {Rural broadband speeds and business startup rates},
  author  = {Steven C. Deller and Brian E. Whitacre and Tessa Conroy},
  journal = {American Journal of Agricultural Economics},
  year    = {2021},
  doi     = {10.1111/ajae.12259},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1111/ajae.12259}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Rural broadband speeds and business startup rates
AU  - Steven C. Deller
AU  - Brian E. Whitacre
AU  - Tessa Conroy
JO  - American Journal of Agricultural Economics
PY  - 2021
DO  - 10.1111/ajae.12259
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1111/ajae.12259
ER  -

Details

DOI: 10.1111/ajae.12259
Countries: United States
Regions: North America
Categories: broadband-and-digital, entrepreneurship, regional-innovation-systems
Added: 2026-04-28