Navigating resources in a digital world is imperative for refugee families settling in the United States. According to the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, the United States has authorized admission of up to 125,000 refugees in 2024. Over 3.2 million refugees have made the USA their home since the passing of the Refugee Act in 1980. American society heavily relies on technology. According to the Pew Research Center 2024 Internet, Broadband Factsheet ,...

Most states are now working to award their BEAD infrastructure allocations , with $42.5 billion spread across all states and territories to (hopefully) address the supply side of the “digital divide” once and for all. Once the BEAD awards are complete, states will most likely proceed with their Digital Equity Capacity grants . While this program is significantly smaller ($811 million ), it is arguably more important for longer-term economic outcomes, with research suggesting that broadband...

Join us on September 24th for a webinar introducing the BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) Broadband Navigator, an innovative, public spatial-analysis tool designed to help community leaders plan broadband projects in areas currently underserved by high-speed internet.

The non-profit organization NC Broadband Matters asked Kenneth Sherin to present on the topic of “Why Broadband Matters to Farmers.” Sherin covers the use cases for ways broadband can make a difference on farms. Sherin’s slides and audio is available on the NC Broadband Matters website . The video of the presentation is available on the organization’s Vimeo site. NC Broadband Matters has recently invited Kenneth Sherin to be a board member to bring a farm and rural focus to their work.

The National Skills Coalition and the Federal Reserve Bank in Atlanta released a research report indicating that 92% of jobs required some level of digital skills, and nearly one-third of U.S. workers do not have foundational digital skills. The report states, “Investing in digital skill-building can help individual workers increase their incomes, allow businesses to thrive, and create positive economic spillover effects for local, state, and national economies.” This national report...

Farmers/producers have the opportunity to impact broadband coverage in rural America far into the future. It is no secret the use of technology is growing in the agricultural industry through the use of digital ag applications. Farms need broadband connectivity as they meet the food and fiber needs of the world. By farmers/producers taking time to check and challenge the FCC Broadband Map as it relates to serviceable broadband locations, they can demonstrate the tremendous need for funding...

A recent report looks at the digital device ownership issue from a rural perspective. Recent data shows that rural residents are less likely to (1) own a desktop or laptop computer, (2) participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program, and (3) have access to computer repair services. The report breaks the rural-oriented difficulties into 3 distinct categories: Status Quo, Supply, and Support – and cites recent studies discussing the challenges in each. The report concludes with...

The technology used in agriculture is advancing at a rapid pace. Look no further than this article about the Top 10 Applications of Robotics in Agriculture and Farming . Many of the applications in this article will require broadband connectivity. As pressure mounts for farms to reduce input costs, increase productivity, and efficiency, technology will play an important role. Broadband connectivity or lack thereof on farms will impact productivity decisions into the future. NC State...

Randolph County, NC is recruiting NC’s First Digital Literacy and Skills Extension Agent The agent will provide opportunities and experiences for Randolph County residents to increase their knowledge and skills for using digital resources to help them earn, learn or be well. The agent is a subject matter resource for current and emerging digital technologies. This Agent will interact with the public through the delivery of skill-building programs and provide broadband access information and...

Oklahoma recently started a pilot program to put "digital navigators" in 5 rural libraries across the state. Here is some information on that effort, and how we hope to expand it. A write-up of what's happening in one location: https://onenet.net/okemah-public-library-makes-digital-inclusion-a-priority-for-the-community/

The federal government is pouring billions of dollars into expanding broadband internet access. But it’s at the state level where the financial rubber meets the fiber-optic road. History suggests some states are ahead of the game while others will have to play catch-up. Read more here: https://theconversation.com/is-your-state-ready-to-handle-the-influx-of-federal-funds-for-expanding-broadband-172131