When: January 13th from 10:00 – 12:00 p.m.
Learn about what’s going on in your county, state, country, and how you can be a part of a more digitally equitable North Carolina.
We will start the planning at this event, so share with all your interested partners in digital equity.
Contact Sara Nichols at sara@landofsky.org for more information.
Digital Inclusion Event Registration
This project is made possible by the generous support of BAND-NC Institute for Emerging Issues.
The election is behind us. What does the future of broadband have in the future with the Biden Administration?
Listen to the discussion on broadband and the FCC policy future:
Digital redlining is a term where decision makes deny electronic equipment growth in processes or policies to people and housing in low-income areas.
Digital opportunities could include discriminatory marketing, financial, or residential opportunities.
Is investing in high-speed internet is yet another digital exclusion?
A bill introduced last Friday tackles broadband underinvestment in low-income areas with hopes to address exclusivity agreements between providers and residential buildings.
Could the United States Government and the Federal Communication Commission take action to prohibit digital redlining?
On August 4, 2021 Representative Yvette Clarke of New York started an inquiry on the topic of digital redlining.
Uhunoma Edamwen. Bill to Address Digital Redlining, Exclusivity Agreements Between Providers and Buildings. Broadbandbreakfast.com. Published August 4, 2021. Accessed August 5, 2021. https://broadbandbreakfast.com/2021/08/bill-to-address-digital-redlining-exclusivity-agreements-between-providers-and-buildings/
Nally CW. Redlining in a Digital Age | Burke Costanza & Carberry LLP. Burke Costanza & Carberry LLP. Published August 31, 2018. Accessed August 5, 2021. https://www.bcclegal.com/2018/08/31/redlining-in-a-digital-age/
Text – H.R.4875 – 117th Congress (2021-2022): To require the Federal Communications Commission to issue a notice of inquiry related to digital redlining, to prohibit digital redlining, and for other purposes. Congress.gov. Published 2021. Accessed August 5, 2021. https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/4875/text
Because the digital divide is much more significant with the more rural mountain communities of Western North Carolina, providing mobility of the following assets is needed:
Having a regular event at consistent locations would be effective in implementing ideas to improve digital inclusion and minimize the digital divide.
We know schools have been successful in implementing school buses with Wi-Fi.
Why can’t mobility be provided throughout the year to strategic community locations like libraries, town centers, or churches?
Mobilizing Libraries in the Fight to Close the Digital Divide – Heartland Forward. Heartland Forward. Published July 23, 2021. Accessed August 3, 2021. https://heartlandforward.org/2021/07/23/mobilizing-libraries-in-the-fight-to-close-the-digital-divide/
Web Tech Czar, Marc Czarnecki is a Digital Navigator and contributing member to the Western North Carolina Broadband Project’s Leadership Team. I welcome resource ideas at Marc@WNCBroadbandProject.org. or by calling 828-365-8299.
Although Wi-Fi availability has been available for hosts to list within the Airbnb app; the app now includes a speed test tool so hosts can also access the tool within the Airbnb app.
With Asheville and Western North Carolina being a top tourist destination, broadband speed is one of the attributes that travelers look for. Also, Airbnb continues to try to attract remote workers and Wi-Fi speed is even more important for this demographic.
In a host account, the user will find the speed test under the “Amenities” section of a listing and will only an estimate your download speeds.
When the user completes a speed test, the app will share that information with Airbnb and M-Lab, an organization that provides Airbnb to the open-source software.
https://www.engadget.com/about/editors/igor-bonifacic. Airbnb adds built-in speed test to help hosts include WiFi info in listings | Engadget. Engadget. Published 2021. Accessed August 1, 2021. https://www.engadget.com/airbinb-wifi-speed-test-tool-host-listings-171011280.html
Airbnb. Published 2021. Accessed August 1, 2021. https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/3003/verify-your-internet-speed
What are the year 2025 broadband goals as define by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper?
Governor Roy Cooper wants to increase the percentage of North Carolina households with high-speed internet subscriptions:
Additionally, the Governor wants to boost the percentage of North Carolina households with children with high-speed internet subscriptions:
The plan is also focused on closing racial disparities in access to high-speed broadband and seeks to increase adoption rates to 80 % across racial subgroups including:
In Western North Carolina on Thursday, July 29; the Land-of-Sky Regional Council of Governments over Buncombe, Madison, Hendersonville, and Transylvania Counties with the Council of Governments west will learn more about the “funding and funneling for WNC broadband connectivity event.
Goldstein P. North Carolina Unveils Digital Equity Office to Help Close Divide. Technology Solutions That Drive Government. Published 2021. Accessed July 28, 2021. https://statetechmagazine.com/article/2021/07/north-carolina-unveils-digital-equity-office-help-close-divide
Facebook on a mobile app provides the ability to search for Wi-Fi in an area. The Wi-Fi search will return business names and an area map of this locations as seen in the YouTube video below.
Facebook Wi-Fi will allow people to connect to your Wi-Fi without needing to share passwords.
It can also increase the number of check-ins to your Facebook Page, which will allow your visitors’ friends to discover your business.
To get started, add features to your existing Wi-Fi.
The service is free and setup takes about 20 minutes with a compatible router and admin access to your Facebook business page.
If you do not have a compatible router, you can purchase one. This list of Facebook compatible routers shows routers that work with Facebook Wi-Fi and details on how to purchase one.
Benefits of Facebook Wi-Fi include:
• More people can find your business: Get discovered by friends of people who visited your business and millions who search for Wi-Fi on Facebook every month.
• Secure access to Wi-Fi without sharing passwords: People who visit your business will no longer need a password to access your Wi-Fi.
• Get insights on visitors: Access anonymized information on how many one-time and returning visitors have checked into your Page through Facebook Wi-Fi.
Visit fbwifi.com to learn more about the product.
Or, see if you already have a compatible router and get set up right away.
When or will Western North Carolina experience the metaverse?
Is it here now?
Metaverse refers to a fully realized digital world that exists beyond the analog one in which we live.
As a buzzword, the metaverse refers to a variety of virtual experiences, environments and assets that gained momentum during the online-everything shift of the pandemic. Together, these new technologies hint at what the internet will become next.
New York Times – John Herrman and Kellen Browning
With a Facebook data center in our WNC neighborhood, in Forrest City; is Facebook growing to become part of a metaverse that is moving away from its advertising business?
Here are some elements of a metaverse:
Regardless to when or if WNC reaches the metaverse, quality high-speed broadband will be needed.
Are We in the Metaverse Yet? The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/10/style/metaverse-virtual-worlds.html. Published 2021. Accessed July 24, 2021.
The EBB program presents a unique opportunity to bring adults online at a discounted cost.
The WNC Broadband Project team wants to ensure the utilization of this important program for adults of all ages.
The Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) is a government program to help households struggling to pay for internet service during the pandemic.
EBB provides a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households.
A household is eligible for EBB if one member of the household meets any of the following:
Note that the Emergency Broadband Benefit is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.
For more information, visit the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) website.
Eligible households can enroll directly through participating broadband providers or with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC).
USAC is the company that administers the FCC’s Lifeline Program. People who are not currently in Lifeline must apply for the EBB Program through the National Lifeline Verifier, which is currently required to enroll in the FCC’s Lifeline benefit program.
Participants of the FCC’s Lifeline program do not need to apply for the EBB Program and must simply opt-in to a plan provided by a participating North Carolina internet service provider.
In Western North Carolina, the Digital Literacy Network is available to help the 60+ year-old Buncombe County resident by:
More About the EBB from OATS, the Older Adults Technology Services.
Running a speedtest on your home or work networks helps you to understand the health of your internet experience on your devices.
Light internet use is associated web search, email, basic video for 1-2 users.
Moderate internet use is associated with >2 users on the network, high-demand video streaming, multiplayer video conferencing, online camming, and telecommuting.
High internet use is basic functions plus more than one high-demand application running at the same time.
Cross tabbing the number of users and how they use the internet helps you to determine a foundational ‘download’ speed benchmark.
Most internet speed tests provide download, upload, jitter, latency, ping speeds.
Focus mostly on your download speed service needs; however other data fields refine the internet experience.
Take speed tests during different times of the day and you will start to see ranges of service that will correlate to your online-broadband experiences.
Fiber to the home or business will always provide the best internet experience. Low-earth orbit satellite, cable, cellular, and wired connections will provide the next-best broadband experiences; depending on the proximity to the providers. Know you internet speed and understand what you are paying for; as America does not have a lot of competition to optimize your internet experiences.
Our broadband project team is advocating for future-proof broadband for all Western North Carolina residents.
How fast is your internet connection? Here’s an easy way to find out. CNET. Published July 12, 2021. Accessed July 20, 2021. https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/how-fast-is-your-internet-connection-heres-an-easy-way-to-find-out/
What is the core issue with the digital divide in America?
Device ownership is the heart of digital equity and the ‘Gateway to Opportunity.’ says Digtunity.
Help bridge the #digitaldivide. Digital equity is a civil rights issue. This injustices that the digital divide inflicts on people are worthy of outrage and an ugent, societal response.
Digtunity
The Issue. (2021, April 21). Digitunity. https://dev.digitunity.org/the-issue/
When Land-of-Sky, WestNGN Broadband, and the WNC Broadband Project team identified and starting working in broadband; we had dreams of getting everyone in Western North Carolina connected.
Over the years we’ve had wins that helped keep us motivated, but with limited resources we moved slowly towards our goals. It is now clear that likely upcoming changes to policy, programs, and funding are going to be giant disrupters to how we move forward broadband issues in the region.
We’ve been on pins and needles waiting on answers on how these changes will work in WNC, and we’re looking locally and the state to help fill in the learning gaps.
One thing that is clear- in order to get everyone connected we’re going to need to deepen our relationship with partners.
We hope you can join us virtually July 29th, 2021 from 10-11:30 EST to get updates from leaders on how we CONNECT WNC.