Two interesting articles regarding satellite broadband and the potential benefits to local rural economies.

This one from Europe:
The so-called digital divide that excludes rural communities from the benefits of broadband access could be overcome by using a combination of wireless networks and satellite receivers. A new project aims to bring high-speed internet connections to rural areas of England and Scotland...Enterprises wishing to relocate to the countryside are currently hindered in continuing their business due to the fact that broadband access - ADSL or fibre - is often simply unavailable.

Another from New Zealand (scroll down to title that says $400 Million):
A community-driven initiative estimated to stimulate economic growth of more than $400 million a year in Southland within 10 years was officially launched yesterday by Prime Minister Helen Clark. In a ceremony at Tuatapere, 87km northwest of Invercargill, which has long suffered from poor telecommunications, Ms Clark unveiled the Southland Broadband Project by taking part in the first high-speed, wireless video conference from the first broadband site commissioned under Project Probe...The contract for the community-initiated, Government-sponsored project has been awarded to Woosh Wireless, which has promised to make fast, reliable Internet connections available to between 92% and 95% of Southlanders by the end of next year.