Category: Education

Categories
A-B Tech Broadband access Broadband in WNC Education

Essential Instrument of Equity

Essential Instrument of Equity
Essential Instrument of Equity

Broadband is the Key Instrument

I found 8 members for my band on the Facebook Business Insider article linked below; and, they all have broadband.

If each of my band members wanted to learn or upskill their musical talent, they could use broadband as their instrument to upskill their musical skills by reading and watching online content.

But as Dr. John Gossett references, broadband at home is a resource that could be scarce if multiple individuals needed to connect.

My analogy is that if I wanted to grow my band during COVID, finding students to learn and practice their musical instrument, could be very very hard to facilitate; even if you had broadband.

Broadband internet access contributed [to a decline in attendance at A-B Tech Community College] as did access to internet-capable devices.

Dr. John Gossett, A-B Tech President

No Broadband, No Learning Opportunity

So the thought that I’m trying to communicate is Western North Carolina has a lot of potential musicians or professions that could be upskilled with broadband.

Not having access to high-speed internet or broadband instantly put these community members at a severe disadvantage in life.

What musical talent would you upskill to be considered my band?

  • accordion?
  • acoustic guitar?
  • bagpipes?
  • banjo?
  • bass guitar?
  • bongo drums?
  • bugle?
  • cello?

Hah. Although I played the oboe in high school, I need to start somewhere to improve my ability to plan to play in a concert.

Broadband would be my instrument of initial choice to facilitate a more knowledge and learnings to make myself a better candidate for a band.

Marc Czarnecki, an Experienced Worker Initiative of WNC Team Member, WNC Broadband Project Team Member, & Digital Literacy Network Community Tech

#digitalinclusion #digitalequity

http://www.facebook.com/businessnc. (2021, June 30). Round table: Western North Carolina, rising higher. Business North Carolina. https://businessnc.com/round-table-western-north-carolina-rising-higher/

‌

Categories
Advocacy Broadband access Broadband in WNC Devices Digital Citizenship Education IoT Speed Video Conferencing Work From Home (WFH)

Bandwidth Growth

Predicted Broadband Speeds
Predicted Broadband Speeds

Requires Future Proof Fiber

What is are the projected peak bandwidth requirements for a household of 4 through 2030?

A family of 4 should ask how to they use the internet:

  • How many and when are the internet devices connected?
    • Tablets, smartphones, desktop, laptops, IoT devices (Internet of Things) like a Ring doorbell with video.
    • Live streaming events?
  • Who uses the internet at home?
    • Students
    • Work from home adults
    • Business – entrepreneurial
    • Telehealth
  • What types of applications use the internet?
    • Gamers
    • Movie streamers
    • YouTube / Vimeo
    • Video conferencing
    • Data file exchanges for employment
    • Social media

Internet Speed Test

Learn more about speed tests and periodically run a speedtest on your computer devices; especially the laptop, tablet, and smartphones.

Sample demo of an Ookla speed test, video is accelerted.
  • Cellular 4G / 5 G speed test
  • WiFi speed test at home vs at work through wired networks

Be aware of the time of day that you are running a speed test as the evening will generally see slower speeds than the rest of the day because of other that maybe on your network locally or in your internet service provider coverage area.

The WNC Broadband Leadership team is receptive to your feedback.

Contact a member of the WNC Broadband Leadership team today.

Also See

Best Practices for Speed Tests

FBA Sees $100 Billion Cost for Nationwide Fiber Broadband – Telecompetitor. (2021, June 22). Telecompetitor.com. https://www.telecompetitor.com/fba-sees-100-billion-cost-for-nationwide-fiber-broadband/

‌

Categories
Basics Broadband access Buncombe Computer Basics Devices Digital Inclusion Digital Literacy Education Event Hotspot Internet Library

Learning Digital Skills

Digital skills
Learn New Digital Skills

Digital inclusion is happening in Western North Carolina. Recently the Land-of-Sky Regional Council of Governments and NC Work initiated a new program called ‘Digital Literacy Network’ or www.DigLit.net.

The Dig Lit Network supports older worker (60+) pathways to careers in Buncombe County with technology assistance in-person, via phone, video conference, or small ‘Special Interest Groups.’

Device Tech Support

The concept is to provide tech support for the older workforce in WNC. The technology support could be for mobile devices including:

  • Laptops
  • Tablets
  • Smartphone

Type of Mentoring

  • Computer hardware
  • Software and applications
  • Hotspots
  • Privacy and security
  • Productivity

Contact Dig Lit Today

To setup an appointment and if you are a Buncombe County resident, 60+ years-old:

Email

Help@DigLit.net

Call

828-365-8299

Special topics of digital literacy groups can also be scheduled for community centers, church, or other buildings with dependable broadband.

Buncombe County Library

Tech Support Walk-In Events

Bring your smartphone, laptop, or tablet and receive one-on-one assistance:

Friday, June 25th

West Asheville Library

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, June 26th

Pack Memorial Library

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

East Asheville Public Library

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

WNC Broadband Project

The Western North Carolina Broadband Leadership Team continues to advocate for future-proof broadband or true high-speed internet for you and your community for education, telehealth, employment, and other economic benefits and the Digital Literacy Network will help you connect to community resources to grow your digital skills.

Categories
Buncombe Digital Literacy E-Learning Internet Internet Laptop WiFi

East Asheville Library

East Asheville Library
East Asheville Library

Print & Digital Resources with Broadband

The recently opened East Asheville Library is available for your print and online resources. Digital resources include:

  • Digital at the East Asheville Library
    Digital at the East Asheville Library
  • Study Rooms with External Monitor
  • Mirror Your Device

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.

IPHONE FCC SPEEDTEST APP RUN AT THE EAST ASHEVILLE LIBRARY

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.

Categories
Broadband in WNC Broadband Playbook Economic Development Education Infrastructure Maps NC BIO

Broadband Community Playbook

Broadband playbook
Broadband Playbook

NC Broadband Infrastructure Office

A community leadership playbook is here from the North Carolina Information Technology Broadband Infrastructure Office (BIO).

Playbook Outline

  • Planning Committees – recruit a dedicated group like the WNC Broadband Project and your Council of Governments (COG) to achieve your community’s broadband goals.
  • Assets & Needs – Identify broadband assets to meet our community needs. In Buncombe, Madison, Transylvania, and Henderson County, the Land-of-Sky Regional Council of Governments here here to help.
  • Building the Network – Form partnerships and roles to build you community’s broadband network. Who are your internet service providers (ISPs). What Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISP) do you have available? Are cellular and satellite viable options?
  • Connecting with Partner Providers – Make long-term relationships with broadband provides and your community. Shoot to implement a fiber optic solution, if possible.
  • Policy & Broadband – Create strategie and incentives to make you community attractive to broadband providers.

Review of the Playbook by Marc

Marc narrates the NC BIO Community Broadband Planning Playbook

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

‌

Categories
Broadband access Broadband in WNC Education Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB)

A Broadband Benefit is Available

Helping Households Connect During the Pandemic
Helping Households Connect During the Pandemic

Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB)

The Emergency Broadband Benefit is a temporary FCC program to help households struggling to afford internet service during the pandemic. The FCC is mobilizing people and organizations to help raise awareness about the Emergency Broadband Benefit. The materials below are available for public use. You can download and customize the materials to meet your needs, including by adding your logo to co-brand.

Eligible households can enroll through an approved provider or by visiting sort by GetEmergencyBroadband.org.

To learn more about the program or to become a partner visit www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit.

If you have questions about any of the materials below please contact broadbandbenefit@fcc.gov.

Categories
Broadband access Broadband in WNC Digital Divide Education Homework Gap

Broadband – Learnings from our Schools

Digital divide and the homework gap
Digital divide and the homework gap

Federal, state monies are flowing to fix our digital divide. Where will these fund be applied? Distance learning with our schools has recognized the homework gap and the needed data to effectively support who and when should receive the priority for broadband.

Reardon, M. (2021, May 10). How the homework gap may actually be the key to solving our digital divide. CNET; CNET. https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/how-the-homework-gap-may-actually-be-the-key-to-solving-the-digital-divide/

‌Also See

the ‘Homework Gap’ Video Will Shock You

Categories
American Rescue Plan Broad River Broadband access Broadband Technology Buncombe Economic Development Education Employment Fiber Sandy Mush Telehealth Tim Love Wireless Wireline

Buncombe Broadband Expansion

Technology impacts - Buncombe County NC
Technology impacts - Buncombe County NC

Counties across North Carolina need flexibility to source funding and apply ‘middle-mile’ broadband infrastructure that could be used to lease to ‘last-mile’ providers. Buncombe County is in this category.

Buncombe County Broadband Update

  • What Buncombe County Knows –
    • Importance
    • Challenges
  • Key Activity Updates
    • Buncombe Broadband Workgroup
    • Buncombe Broadband RFP
    • Unserved Parcels in Buncombe County
  • Technologies
    • Mobile broadband
    • Fixed wireless
    • Satellite
    • Cable
    • Fiber
    • DSL
  • What’s next
  • Upcoming opportunities
  • Technology impacts

Buncombe flags Sandy Mush, Broad River for broadband expansion. (2021, May 5). Mountain Xpress. https://mountainx.com/news/buncombe-flags-sandy-mush-broad-river-for-broadband-expansion/

Also See

Imperative Internet – Terri Wells

‌

Categories
5g Digital Divide Download E-Learning Infrastructure Latency Speed Upload Wireless

Digital Divide

E-Learning's Digital Divide
E-Learning's Digital Divide

Internet Access & E-Learning

ln this ~8 minute video Mashable’s Rachel Kraus walks through the many ways the digital divide has intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic and why thinking about the internet as a freeway could inform how we close it.

The video includes wonderful graphs and images to support the visualization of the technology topics including:

  • Digital divide and the demographic data
  • Kids doing homework in a parking lots
  • Infrastructure
  • Internet Access
  • Government service delivery
  • Download, upload, latency speeds
  • Equipment, home layout
The ‘Digital Divide’ and COVID-19’s Impact on Internet Access | Mashable

Also See

Categories
Broadband access Dogwood Trust Economic Development Education Employment

Critical Broadband Access

Letter from Dogwood Health Trust
Letter from Dogwood Health Trust

Learn from Lessons

It takes partnerships and collaboration to maintain and improve the health, education, and economic development of our Western North Carolina communities.

We illuminated just how critical broadband access is for learning, working or even supplying a family in quarantine. 

Susan Mims, Interim CEO at the Dogwood Health Trust, April 30, 2021 Newsletter

What is the pathway to future Western North Carolina growth?

High speed internet or broadband and fiber optics will have a critical role!