Other Views
By Bill Gelert, Guest Columnist
On March 21 in Franklin, I attended a broadband internet presentation sponsored by state Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-N.C.). Presentations were made by the N.C. Department of Information Technology and six independent eastern North Carolina internet service providers.
The purpose of the event was to advise the attendees of the situation regarding bringing comprehensive Broadband I High Speed I Fiber Optic Internet service to the unserved and underserved areas of western North Carolina.
The presentation took two hours, but a few points are of utmost importance to those of us who live, work and attend school in western North Carolina.
We have been seeking better internet service for years, a situation made even more critical due to the effect the pandemic has had on those working and studying from home as a result of closures and suspensions associated with the government’s response to Covid-19.
Our state and federal elected officials have campaigned and been elected on commitments to find solutions and funding to assist in bringing affordable, quality, high-speed internet service to all North Carolinians. If we do our part, we can make this a reality.
As always, details are still coming into focus and studies are being conducted, but it was made clear during the presentations that there is significant grant money available and a viable plan being formulated to finally bring state of the art internet to rural North Carolina.
But, as stated above, we have to do our part. To that end, the DIT needs all households and businesses to provide them with information regarding our current service or lack thereof. Our role starts with accessing and completing the N.C. Broadband Service Survey. (Find details and a link to the survey on the Cherokee Scout’s Facebook page.)
For those with Internet access, the survey is online at ncbroadband.gov under the Broadband Survey drop-down tab. As the survey includes a line speed test assessment, it is important to take the survey from the location where you live or work so that the speed of service at that location can be accurately measured.
For those without internet access, the survey can be taken by telephone at 919-750-0553. Please encourage everyone you know to access and complete the survey. The website says the survey takes about five minutes to complete, time we cannot afford not to spend.
Once we provide the DIT with the information they need to complete their study, we will be in a good position to cause our representatives, government service departments and independent service providers to work together to bring state-of-the-art internet access to all North Carolinians without delay.
The writer is a resident of Murphy.