How’s Your Broadband Connection? Bastrop County Launches Effort to Expand Internet Access
Bastrop County, TX (July 23, 2020) – The Bastrop County Broadband Committee launched a new effort today to help expand and improve internet access for all county residents, businesses, schools, healthcare facilities, and community organizations.
“Access to healthcare through the internet is key to providing our community with vital information as well as effective care,” said Dr. Desmar Walkes, Bastrop County Health Authority. “The lack of consistent internet service in Bastrop County limits public access to care, which ultimately costs all of us time, money and, in some cases, lives.”
The local broadband committee is working in partnership with nonprofit Connected Nation Texas (CN Texas) to better identify areas that have no internet access or need improved services while developing immediate and long-term solutions for expanding that access—this includes working with local stakeholders and internet service providers. The project is possible thanks to funding through Bastrop County Cares.
As part of this effort, the committee is asking every individual, business, and community organization in the county to take 10 minutes to fill out this short survey about access: https://www.myconnectedcommunity.org/bastrop-county/. The data collected will be used to develop a county-specific Technology Action Plan using the nonprofit’s Connected Community Engagement Program. The program has developed more than 350 plans across the country.
“It’s so important that everyone take part in this and share what they can about their internet access. Having strong and complete data will ultimately mean a better plan for Bastrop County,” said Debbie Bresette, Executive Director, Bastrop County Cares. “We want to ensure that we’re truly helping those areas that are unserved or underserved. We understand that our children deserve strong internet service so they can complete their school assignments, area adults need service so they can work, local senior citizens need service so they can access telehealth options for care, and our businesses need service so they can compete not just locally but globally, keeping their tax dollars here at home. Having good internet service impacts so many important things for our county and its people.”
You can find a printable fact sheet on the committee’swork by heading to this link: https://connectednation.org/texas/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2020/07/Bastrop-County-Broadband-Fact-Sheet.pdf. In addition, you can help CN Texas update broadband coverage maps for the state.
“We’re also encouraging every Texan to review our current broadband coverage maps and tell us if the data needs to be improved for their areas,” said Jennifer Harris, State Program Director, CN Texas. “We are not only working in Bastrop County to improve internet access; we are working in communities across the Lone Star State to make sure that Texas has a robust and strong broadband landscape.”
You can also find the Bastrop County map and review its information by heading to https://connectednation.org/texas/mapping-analysis/and then provide feedback at https://connectednation.org/texas/feedback. You can also find an interactive map at https://connectednation.org/texas/interactivemap.
To learn more about CN Texas, email Jennifer Harris atjharris@connectednation.orgor visit the CN Texas website at www.connectednation.org/texas.
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Contact: Jessica Denson, Director, Communications
Email: jdenson@connectednation.org Phone: 502-341-2024
Website: connectednation.org/texas
About Connected Nation Texas: CN Texas is a local division of the national nonprofit Connected Nation. Our mission is to improve lives by providing innovative solutions that expand access to and increase the adoption and use of broadband (high-speed internet) and its related technologies for all people. Everyone belongs in a Connected Nation.
Connected Nation works with consumers, local community leaders, states, technology providers, and foundations to develop and implement technology expansion programs with core competencies centered on a mission to improve digital inclusion for people and places previously underserved or overlooked. For more information, please visit: connectednation.organd follow Connected Nation on Facebookand Twitter.