Category: Broadband access

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Affordability Broadband access Broadband in WNC Buncombe Economic Development Live Streaming Relevancy

Broadband & Employment

broadband for employment

Broadband is high speed internet that connects you to the world and the opportunities that it beholds. Economic opportunities are changing as a result of broadband.

This Wednesday, Marc Czarnecki will hold a Livestream event with the Asheville Chamber of Commerce’s WNC Career Expo. It’s virtual, so you need internet access. Plan your internet access!

WNC CAREER EXPO 

REGIONAL VIRTUAL JOB FAIR

At 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 14 – the Experienced Workforce Initiatives very own Web Tech Czar – Marc Czarnecki is inviting you to join his Google Livestream event on broadband and how to leverage it for your employment.

Using Broadband for Employment

Register TODAY at the Asheville Chamber of Commerce’s Virtual Job Fair and on Wednesday morning you will have access to the ‘Employment & Training Services’ >  ‘Asheville 50+ Works’ > Webcasts.

The Webcast button in ‘Asheville 50+ Works’ will contain the livestream URL for you to join.

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Affordability Broadband in WNC Community Development Digital Divide Digital Equity Digital Inclusion

Digital Alliance for our Nation

digital inclusion

Angela Siefer, Executive Director of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) speaks for our nation on digital opportunities. Her message provided to congress earlier this year:

  • Residential internet service in the US is expensive.
  • Analytic reporting of the cost of service throughout the nation are not available. We need the FCC to gather this data and make it publicly available.
  • In the US digital training is undervalued and underfunded.
    • 1/3 of manufacturing workers lack proficient digital skills
    • 1/2 of all construction, transportation, and storage workers lack proficient digital skills
    • No dedicated funding is available towards digital training in the US

Local governments, libraries, non-profits have been left to piece-together to needed recourses to address the basic digital skills training. Piecing together is the wrong strategy for a strong workforce.

Angela Siefer, Executive Director, National Digital Inclusion Alliance

Digital Stewardship

Our Western North Carolina communities need to continue to provide and grow:

  • Guidance to low income parents on how to connect to their children’s teachers.
  • Leadership for seniors on how to use electronic communication and telehealth.
  • Help Veterans and disadvantaged individuals with digital skills for employment.
  • Support the State of North Carolina in developing digital equity.

Digital Equity

Digital equity refers to whether people can access and effectively use the technology necessary to participate in modern society. Digital equity planning is the opportunity for the rural areas of North Carolina as Representative Jake Johnson discusses.

Support the WNC Broadband Project’s goals to advocate, educate, and engage our communities in the needed awareness of these digital opportunities.

Also See

Reverend Louis Grant talk about digital inclusion in WNC.

Kenneth Merritt discuss digital inclusion in Asheville.

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Asheville Broadband access Broadband in WNC Community Development Digital Equity Digital Inclusion

Make Internet Available

Digital Inclusion, Digital Equity

Digital Inclusion Week (DIW) aims to raise awareness of solutions addressing home internet access, personal devices, and local technology training and support programs.

DIW2020 is sponsored by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance representing more than 450 affiliated organizations in 44 states working toward digital equity.

Kenneth Merritt – “number one is making the internet available for everyone, making it accessible for everyone”

Digital Inclusion

The ability of individuals and groups to access and use information and communication technologies.

Digital Equity

The condition in which all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy and economy.

Digital equity is necessary for civic and cultural participation, employment lifelong learning, and access to essential services.

Stay Connected

This is the best time in our history of the continental US is that we stay connected. This is this is a time where individuals need to be informed. The internet is a great tool to use to stay informed and you can do it

Kenneth Merritt

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Broadband access Economic Development

Economic Engine

economic engine

Saluda was the first town on the mountain to receive tourists by train.

The first train from Spartanburg stopped in what would become Saluda on July 4, 1878. It took another year to lay the track over into Hendersonville. In the meantime, visitors began building summer homes

https://www.citizen-times.com/story/life/2015/04/23/trains-brought-tourists-saluda-grade/26181947/

Could broadband be another economic engine in Western North Carolina?

Representative Jake Johnson shares his thoughts in the video below.

Economic train engine in Saluda, NC
Disclaimer

The WNC Broadband Project (Project) aims to support communities interested in ensuring access to reliable, truly high-speed internet service. It develops tools to empower individuals, communities, and area leaders in advocating effectively for their digital needs.  As a community-supported initiative building on the work of West Next Generation Network (WestNGN), it is not owned or controlled by any affiliate of WestNGN.  The WNC Broadband Project is also not financed by any corporate entity, as such financing would be inconsistent with the Project’s independent community engagement focus.  The views, opinions and products of the WNC Broadband Project are the sole responsibility of the Project team and its advisory board, acting in their personal capacity and not in any capacity related to WestNGN, UNC Asheville, or any other WestNGN affiliate.

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Broadband access Broadband in WNC Community Development Digital Divide Digital Equity Digital Inclusion Economic Development Education

Digital Inclusion Week

Digital Inclusion Week

October 5th Starts DIW

Digital equity refers to whether people can access and effectively use the technology necessary to participate in modern society.

Starting Monday, October 5th; the WNC Broadband Project Team starts contributing to an international event – Digital Inclusion Week or DIW.

DIW aims to raise awareness of solutions addressing home internet access, personal devices, and local technology training and support programs.

DIW2020 is sponsored by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance representing more than 450 affiliated organizations in 44 states working toward digital equity.

Call To Action: Show Your Support

Take our CTA or Call-To-Action and email DigitalInclusion@WNCBroadband.org to share your stories of how, when, where, and why digital inclusion is important to you and your WNC community.

Even better, please let us know if you would engage this topic with us on:

  • Facebook Live
  • Google Meet
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube Live
  • Zoom
  • Or your preference of a digital inclusion toolset

https://www.govtech.com/civic/The-Quest-for-Digital-Equity.html

#digitalequityNOW #digitalinclusion #DIW2020

Categories
Broadband access Broadband in WNC Digital Divide

Plan Your Internet

Plan travels for the urban-rural internet divide

The urban/rural divide is in Western North Carolina. For high speed or broadband application including video conferencing while traveling; you will need to plan and test your internet. There are many parts of WNC that do not have terrestrial or wireless broadband.

The adults, parents, children should not be be at a disadvantage because of the lack of available internet as Representative Jake Johnson discusses in the video below.

Rural WNC should not be at an internet disadvantage!
Disclaimers

The WNC Broadband Project aims to support communities interested in ensuring access to reliable, truly high-speed internet service.

It develops tools to empower individuals, communities, and area leaders in advocating effectively for their digital needs.

As a community-supported initiative building on the work of West Next Generation Network (WestNGN), it is not owned or controlled by any affiliate of WestNGN.

The WNC Broadband Project is also not financed by any corporate entity, as such financing would be inconsistent with the Project’s independent community engagement focus.

The views, opinions and products of the WNC Broadband Project are the sole responsibility of the Project team and its advisory board, acting in their personal capacity and not in any capacity related to WestNGN, UNC Asheville, or any other WestNGN affiliate.

Categories
Affordability Community Development Relevancy

Across North Carolina, the barriers — and solutions — to broadband internet access for students and families are multi-layered

Internet access in NC

Digital access requires more than a physical connection.

There are factors of:

  • Affordability
  • Relevancy

A multi-faceted, short-and long-term approach to eliminating the digital divide in Western North Carolina.

Across North Carolina, the barriers — and solutions — to broadband internet access for students and families are multi-layered

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Broadband access Buncombe Education

Stories of Buncombe Internet

Buncombe proximity to reliable internet

Buncombe County stories of the lack of reliable internet:

  • Pamela Smith’s household – not enough bandwidth for her four high-school-age daughters
  • Amanda Anderson’s household – satellite internet that proved insufficient for online learning for sons age 11 and 14

Barry Pace, director of technology for Buncombe County Schools, said teachers are helping families who have ongoing access issues by giving students hands-on learning kits, thumb drives loaded with assignments and alternative assignments as needed.

All public school students in Buncombe County receive an iPad or a Windows laptop, depending on their grade level, so the key issue is proximity to reliable internet.

But for students who are not in range of a cell tower or whose families can’t afford home internet, there is no quick fix.

#digitalinclusion #digitaleducation #digitaldivide #buncombe

Virtually no internet: Rural NC families struggle with online access for school-age children
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Broadband access Broadband funding Broadband in WNC Community Development Digital Divide Economic Development Education Federal Efforts Rural

A Conversation on Rural Broadband Internet

Bill Sederburg on computer monitor

A panel of broadband experts, including WNC Broadband Project’s Bill Sederburg, discussed how to embark on a program – either on their own or with partners – to implement broadband infrastructure to benefit residents.

Speakers

  • Moe Davis | Democratic Nominee 11th Congressional District
  • Danny Bottoms | Vision Cashiers; Public WiFi Project
  • Mike Hawkins | Transylvania County Board of Commissioners Chair
  • Hunter Goosman | ERC Executive Director/CEO
  • William Sederburg, Phd. | WestNGN Chair

Federal and state policy issues were discussed in the ‘Vote for Moe Davis’ YouTube video link below.

https://youtu.be/mml2kgBprw8

DISCLAIMER: The WNC Broadband Project, a Western North Carolina community group; is not connected with the ‘Vote for Moe Davis’ campaign. We advocate for the non-partisan expansion, education, and inclusion of high speed internet in our WNC communities.

Categories
Broadband access Broadband in WNC Buncombe Community Development Digital Divide Economic Development WiFi

Free Broadband in Buncombe

Free broadband in Buncombe

City of Asheville IT staff is investigating possibilities to provide free broadband in Asheville and Buncombe County.

Free broadband internet would be available in public spots throughout Buncombe County under a proposal by the local government’s information technology department.

“Information Technology staff continue to work with internet providers to explore opportunities for internet connectivity throughout the County (Buncombe Broadband Workgroup) to help those who do not currently have access to high speed internet”

Read More: https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2020/09/15/buncombe-looks-build-free-broadband-throughout-county/5810639002/

Also See:

Support, educate, advocate for digital inclusion with our WNC Broadband Project Leadership Team.