Key driving factors affecting our society:

• Mechanization and production exemplified by the Industrial Revolution of Britain. 1770-1800.
• The Age of Steam and the development of robust and efficient transportation networks with railways effecting national economies and international economies effected more by Ocean Steam Liners. 1830-1850
• Steel Electricity and Heavy Engineering. 1875-1900
• The Age of Oil, Automobiles and Mass Production. 1900-1930
• The Age of Information and Telecommunications. 1970-2000

These need to be carefully considered in determining future priorities.

The period of time, from the point of invention to the era of mass adoption, is roughly 30 years for each of these revolutions. The resulting mass adoption offers some "proof" of the value of these technologies to our society.

The ultimate success in how well any of these technological revolutions have provided our society with sustained positive effects, depends in part on how well we adapt to the challenges of these revolutions and capitalize on the opportunities they present.

Our economy has been substantially impacted by each of these technological revolutions and each revolution has created enormous wealth in our society. But any particular technology has not, by itself, solved all of society's long term challenges.

Fibre optic communication networks represent the very fabric of the infrastructure that society needs to take advantage of the information revolution. Just like we've built railroads and roads for the good of our society, communities need to ensure that comprehensive and cost effective communication services are available to all it's citizens.

Super fast broadband will play a substantial roll in helping to provide many solutions to our communities problems. The directions we take with new technologies can have a profound impact on our economies both globally and locally.