Good afternoon everyone. Thank you for being with us today!

Keith Barnett, Fontana Regional Library

Good afternoon! Pia Law from Blue Cross, NC

Claudia Aleman - Main Library Manager at Durham County. We rec'd an LSTA grant for a digital navigator

Ben Farmer, Senior Regional Planner Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments - Wilson

Good Afternoon. I am Tammy Caudill, Strategic Initiatives at Piedmont Triad Regional Council

Madalyn Gaito, Connect McDowell

DJ Rhodes, Roanoke-Chowan Community Health Centers

Miranda Boykin- Mayor, Town of Sims

James Cunningham Planner Kerr-Tar Council of Governments

Hi, I'm Andrea Beatty from Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry here in Catawba County. I am the Assistant Director of Development and Communication.

Bill Sparks - Ronaoke Chowan Community Health Center, Ahoskie, NC - IT Director

Kayla McCoy, Wilkes Soil & water Conservation District - Grants Admin

Chuck Thornton Weaverville, NC (Northern Asheville) Retired Engineer. Democratic Party

William Crumpler - Digital Inclusion Program Coordinator and AmeriCorps VISTA with KC Digital Drive.

Affordable access

lack of high speed in rural areas

Getting fast reliable internet service to rural areas of the state

Broadband Availability

What is the biggest challenge facing your community in terms of the digital divide right now?

lack of accesss to publications and resources

Largest challenge is reaching the most vulnerable

lack of high speed in rural areas and lack of cellular carrier variety

Lack of choice in affordable, adequate service

Many families cannot get access to broadband or any internet access because of mountainous region.

fast, reliable broadband access at affordable prices to local areas

https://iei.ncsu.edu/band-nc/

Lack of adequate high speed internet and lack of choice in affordable service

Limitations grants on areas served by economic development tier. We have areas under served area outside these eligible areas.

In addition to lack of access in Rural areas, and lack of ability to afford internet, creating internet communications that are ADA compliant and are available in multiple languages is important for our goal too

FCC - that's terrible eval work

Without good data, it's difficult to make good policy. Is the FCC working on identifying another measure for connectivity (i.e., an alternative to one household per census blk)?

https://ncsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cBEBegH1gCABRKl?inst=bio&source=web

Have private providers of broadband willing to share data? Have they been asked?

Thanks so much. Always appreciate info shared by IEI. Y'all are superstars!

Check out the NC Broadband Indices here: https://www.ncbroadband.gov/data-reports/nc-broadband-indices

Are there examples of municipalities in NC stepping up to provide access? Like Chattanooga, TN?

Greenlight is confined to the Wilson County border. Cannot expand beyond according to the 2011 "Level the Playing Field Act"

What about municipalities leasing fiber?

NCLM would be a good resource for that information

Sarah - I believe Holly Springs has explored leasing fiber. They were one of the case studies listed in this excellent report: https://www.benton.org/publications/public-infrastructureprivate-service

Thank you!

Thank you @William.

Register for the next workshop here: https://ncsu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEvcOusqzwvE9daVCacdrNiTn3my7qtvAs9

Looking forward to it!

Here is the link again: https://www.ncbroadband.gov/data-reports/nc-broadband-indices

Public school systems may know a lot more now since the pandemic

What is 311?

https://digitalcharlotte.org/digitalnavigators/

That is the link to 311

https://digitalcharlotte.org/digitalnavigators/

1) What questions has this discussion raised for you?Who are the three key organizations in your community who should be involved in digital inclusion planning? (First ones that come to mind)Who are three that are less obvious that can provide lived experience or offer a different lens?

I have info use of arp

You can sign up for the workshop on Oct. 21st here: https://ncsu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEvcOusqzwvE9daVCacdrNiTn3my7qtvAs9

https://iei.ncsu.edu/band-nc/

mjwoods2@ncsu.edu

This was an excellent session. Very informative. I look forward to the next session!

Thank you group 4!!