Today the President is expected to meet with small business owners in Marquette, Mich., who are growing their companies worldwide because of improved broadband access. The visit exemplifies the President’s State of the Union pledge to extend high-speed wireless Internet coverage to 98% of Americans, including remote small businesses, within the next five years. The administration hopes the extended Internet access will spur innovation and job growth.

A study released last year by the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy emphasized the need for small businesses to have access to broadband. "Owners said broadband was crucial for achieving strategic goals, improving competitiveness and efficiency, reaching customers, and interacting with vendors," the SBA study reported. By providing those critical exchanges with customers and vendors, broadband is enabling small business to compete in a global market.

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