(Statewide) – During the pandemic, some Indiana residents lacked internet access needed for remote work or school work for their kids.
Purdue University’s Broadband Team is working to make sure unserved and underserved areas will receive a boost, and make sure the money ends up where it’s needed most.
According to connectindiana.com, Ripley and Franklin counties have among the highest percentages of unserved and underserved broadband locations in the state.
Roberto Gallardo, the university’s vice president for engagement and director of its Center for Regional Development, said a Federal Communications Commission map will pinpoint the spots where broadband help is needed – and they aren’t just rural areas.
“I’ve known anecdotally from urban counties that they still have pockets out of their incorporated cities that have issues with connectivity,” he said.
To make the map as accurate as possible, he said, university students and alumni team members will assist by letting people know how to report their internet service information. The group will also conduct presentations, talk with community leaders and other stakeholders, and post information on social media about the program.
Gallardo said the Purdue team won’t be visiting anyone’s home to conduct speed tests or validate their address or service on the FCC map, but they can point them to the resources to do their own test and explain why it’s important.
“We also do not control the outcome of what happens to that speed test once it’s completed,” he said. “We are increasing awareness of existing resources and spreading the word through taking advantage of the trust that we have across the Indiana community.”
The effort is the result of Indiana receiving $870 million in federal funds to boost broadband efforts across the state. The funding is expected by mid-to-late 2024.
Since February, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch has certified 11 Indiana counties – including Dearborn and Decatur – as “broadband ready.”
The designation tells the telecommunication industry that a community has taken steps to reduce barriers to broadband infrastructure investment.
(Story by our newsgathering partners at Indiana News Service)
