How Connected Nation Texas is Helping Connect Rural Communities Across the State
Austin, TX (December 10, 2020) – Connected Nation Texas (CN Texas) is working with local communities across the state to collect input from residents, businesses, community organizations, educators, healthcare providers, and others in an effort to develop Technology Action Plans through the Connected Community Engagement Program.
“When Connected Nation Texas started working directly with rural communities through our Connected program in 2019, we had financial support from the Texas Rural Funders to work with 24 communities,” said Jennifer Harris, State Program Director, Connected Nation Texas. “The demand has increased so much that the financial support has since grown to help us support 27 communities across the state, and one community was so serious about finding solutions to become better connected that local leaders secured funding on their own for a Connected engagement.”
Counties that have active Connected programs include: Rains, Wharton, Walker, Liberty, Blanco, Burnet, Llano, Anderson, Bastrop, Jasper, San Augustine, Morris, Donley, Wheeler, and Milam.
“It’s an exciting time for Texas. Of the 28 currently funded communities that CN Texas will work with to create community technology plans, four are reviewing their assessment data this week, several are in the analysis phase, four more are continuing to collect data, and nearly a dozen will launch between now and the end of January,” said Harris.
The Connected program empowers local, collaborative, and data-driven technology planning to inform intelligent, digital development by working with a local broadband committee. CN Texas staff works with local champions to collect data from area residents, businesses, community organizations, and internet service providers to identify opportunities and challenges for expanding access to broadband, ultimately developing a county-specific Technology Action Plan that addresses each area’s unique needs.
“CN Texas is still looking to identify seven more communities with target geographies in the Big Country, the Panhandle, the Valley, and Far West Texas,” said Harris. “We encourage other community leaders that want to work on expanding access and improving technology use in their communities to contact us now.”
If you are interested in learning more about the Connected program or think it would benefit your community, head to https://connectednation.org/connect-my-community/. You can also learn more about CN Texas by emailing Jennifer Harris at jharris@connectednation.org or by visiting the CN Texas website at www.connectednation.org/texas.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jessica Denson, Communications Director
jdenson@connectednation.org
(502) 341-2024
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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.org and follow Connected Nation on Facebook and Twitter.