While many executives still shun working from home via broadband, telecommuting remains on the rise, from 4 million in 1990 to 45 million in 2006. Some organizations are reimbursing employees for broadband connection costs. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the only example the article gives, has launched a new teleworker program which expects to have just 3,300 employees participating by 2011.

Those workers get the cost of their connections reimbursed, though interestingly they have to somehow "attest to the percentage of ISP services used for work-related purposes." While most people would love to work from home be wary -- another study we noticed today states you're less likely to see a promotion if you're not getting constant face time with your boss. You're also less likely to have to drink bad coffee and sing happy birthday to people you don't like -- so it probably balances out in the long run.