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:
The recently opened East Asheville Library is available for your print and online resources. Digital resources include:
Audio and video file transfer are large files; thus having high-speed internet or broadband is an advantage as seen with the FCC Speedtest App results below on a iPhone.
The WNC Broadband Project Team is happy to digital tools available in Western North Carolina, including the newest Buncombe County Library.
Digital Literacy Network resources are also available to assist 60+ year old Buncombe County residents.
WFH or Working From Home requires knowledge of internet speeds and the factors that contribute to your online experiences. Running a speed test helps to understand:
Consider running an internet speed test to understand the variables throughout the day including:
The WNC Broadband project is advocating on your behalf for future-proof solutions that provide internet connectivity and digital literacy for all.
Liam Tung. (2021, June 10). Best internet speed test 2021: Test your connection. ZDNet; ZDNet. https://www.zdnet.com/article/best-internet-speed-test/
An Assurance smartphone is free for qualified individuals it comes with 10 Gigs of of monthly internet data for a laptop hotspot.
Periodically the Assurance phone tent can be found in Asheville.
If you qualify, Assurance Wireless periodically sets-up a tent in Asheville and provides a free smartphone for life’s needed communication from friends, family, employers, and more.
Additionally, if you are 60+ years old and you are a Buncombe County resident… and have questions or need help in using an Android or Apple smartphone for employment or careers, please contact a member of the Digital Literacy Network for assistance.
A member of our tech team will setup an appointment in-person or virtually.
Learn More About Assurance Wireless Phone
https://www.assurancewireless.com
Gov. Roy Cooper proposes investing $1.2 billion in federal American Rescue Plan funds in these key pillars necessary to close the digital gap:
By investing in these key pillars, North Carolina can achieve digital equity for all.
The Digital Divide | Broadband Infrastructure Office. (2021). https://www.ncbroadband.gov/digital-divide
As a digital literacy instructor, I commonly get students that don’t understand the big-tech silos and the applications or apps that are associated with each of them, so I’ve authored a new acronym GAMY which could be expanded to GAAFMY:
The primary significance is that each big-tech silos needs a security-key to get into their silo. A security-key is a unique combination of an email, username, password, phone number, location, and possibly other multifactor authentications. If you are a Google Business listing, you would also receive a snail-mail post card sent to your physical address; which is yet another piece of security-key data.
Each laptop, desktop, smartphone, tablet, IoT, smart TV, smart car or other computer device; individually requires device sign-in security. This device is yet another unique identifier to our profile. When individuals need to change a password, email, or device for an GAMY app; each device must be changed. Ouch!
These security identifiers are data points held and managed by each big-tech silo (BTS). Is it safe to say, BTS know more about us than our own government? Our government most commonly knows us with only a combination of a name, address, email, phone, social security number.
BTS are the highly profitable growth superstars. Do they keep the best interest of all users when it comes to digital policy making?
As users, we really have little recourse to most BTS applications, but to accept their user license agreement or ULA. As individuals, we grant a lot of permission to the will of the BTS. So, who is our advocate of the software and hardware that uses broadband to transport digital information?
So if the Amazon superstar silo says they want new laws, who becomes the effective consumer advocate?
Perhaps we should hold the tech superstars to an even higher standard because of their power over our lives and their influence on policymakers and public perception.
Emily Stewart, writing for Vox’s Recode
WNC Broadband project is your advocate for high-speed internet to use these big tech services.
Who is your big tech silo advocate as a consumer? Especially when is comes to GAMY policy and procedures?
Is our advocate the United States government?
Can policy makers be influenced BTS, including big tech Amazon; without the best interest of the consumer?
.Amazon Wants a Lot of New Laws. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/03/technology/amazon-laws.html. Published 2021. Accessed June 6, 2021.
Telehealth is the use of communications technologies to provide health care from a distance. These technologies may include computers, cameras, videoconferencing, the Internet (ideally high-speed internet or broadband), and satellite and wireless communications.
Some examples of telehealth include
Sometimes people use the term telemedicine to mean the same thing as telehealth. Telehealth is a broader term. It includes telemedicine. But it also includes things like training for health care providers, health care administrative meetings, and services provided by pharmacists and social workers.
Some of the benefits of telehealth include
Some of the problems with telehealth include:
The types of care that you can get using telehealth may include
For telehealth visits, just like with an in-person visit, it is important to be prepared and have good communication with the provider.
Telehealth. Medlineplus.gov. Published 2021. Accessed May 30, 2021. https://medlineplus.gov/telehealth.html
The North Carolina House unanimously approved legislation on Wednesday that aims to spend $750 million in federal coronavirus relief funds to install high-speed internet in rural and remote areas lacking it.
The measure, which now goes to the Senate, meets goals of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper in his proposal last week to spend $1.2 billion of America Rescue Plan money on improving internet access.
“This is a huge step forward. The flexibility given the counties is a major step in helping fill in unserved parts of all parts of the state. It should help our WNC counties considerably.”
William Sederburg, Chair of the WNC Broadband Project
Here is the link to the language of the bill as reported by the committee. The WNC Broadband Project Team is not aware of any floor amendments as reported out of committee, not what we are aware of or not.
https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2021/Bills/House/PDF/H947v2.pdf
American Rescue Plan – Recommendation Investing $1.2 billion –
Closing the Digital Divide
$750M in virus aid for NC broadband expansion OK’d by House. (2021, May 26). AP NEWS; Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/nc-state-wire-business-technology-health-coronavirus-pandemic-e757ca933053b92918480a039e53d44d
A community leadership playbook is here from the North Carolina Information Technology Broadband Infrastructure Office (BIO).
Contact any member of our WNC Broadband project team today.
Community Broadband Planning Playbook | Broadband Infrastructure Office. (2021). Ncbroadband.gov. https://www.ncbroadband.gov/technical-assistance/playbook
The recommendation invests $1.2 billion in broadband access and affordability to close the digital divide in North Carolina. While North Carolina’s economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, the gap between residents enjoying economic growth and those struggling to secure jobs, find housing, and pursue educational resources is widening. The funds will provide access to affordable, high-speed internet in every corner of the state and will ensure high-speed internet is equitably adopted and residents are able to access education, healthcare, and business opportunities.
NC Governor Roy Cooper
NC Gov. Cooper: Governor Cooper Releases American Rescue Plan Investment Recommendations. (2021, May 19). Nc.gov. https://governor.nc.gov/news/governor-cooper-releases-american-rescue-plan-investment-recommendations
Broadband, education atop Gov. Cooper’s $5.7B virus aid proposals – Asheville Citizen-Times. (2021). Newsmemory.com. https://ashevillecitizentimes-nc-app.newsmemory.com/?publink=286829201_1345d7d
Why are the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky National Park some of the most visited national destinations in America? Climate, scenery, outdoor activities, family-friendly and other attributes are likely at the top of the list.
Did you know the Great Smoky Mountains National Park of North Carolina is listed as having one of the fastest mobile download speeds in? In fact is it listed as 7th.
When you travel or vacation in Western North Carolina, are you here to work remotely or digitally disconnect? Likely there is a flavor of both.
A feature of some national campgrounds is public WiFi. With the availability of WiFi or cellular data, connecting to work is likely to happen. Premium camping sites likely have cellular data connectivity. How does available broadband affect your camping location decision?
Emergency personnel also depend on broadband to provide services with the volumes. If the law enforcement, medical, or fire personnel need the use of video, broadband speeds are needed. Broadband is considered high-speed internet of at least 25Mbs down and 5Mbs up. Good broadband also means low latency. Not having sufficient broadband can affect park operations negatively with associated services include fuel, food, and logistical topics.
During the spring many folks plan their summer trip. If you trip is to a national park, ask yourself and family; how important is it to be internet connected? Likely if you are sharing photos and videos during your trip, you will need available broadband.
Isla McKetta. (2021, May 19). Fastest Internet Speeds at US and Canadian National Parks. Speedtest Stories & Analysis: Data-Driven Articles on Internet Speeds; Speedtest Stories & Analysis: Data-driven articles on internet speeds. https://www.speedtest.net/insights/blog/mobile-performance-national-parks-us-canada-2021/
Yellowstone Proposes Fiber Optic Network To Improve Telecommunications. (2021). Nationalparkstraveler.org. https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2021/03/yellowstone-proposes-fiber-optic-network-improve-telecommunications