Connected Nation Texas and SETRPC partner to bridge the Digital Divide in three counties by launching a broadband assessment

Beaumont, Texas (January 28, 2022) – The South East Texas Regional Planning Commission (SETRPC) invites local stakeholders, community residents, and media to attend a special kickoff event on Wednesday, February 2, at 10 a.m. to discuss expanding and improving broadband access, adoption, and use throughout a three-county region. Attendees will learn about broadband access in Hardin, Jefferson, and Orange counties and how they can participate in this process to improve the internet in their county. The meeting will conclude with a Q&A session.

The event will be held at:

MCM Elegante Hotel

Fountain Room

2355 Interstate 10

Beaumont, Texas 77705

For those who cannot attend the kickoff meeting, the SETRPC is asking residents and organizations to take 10 minutes to fill out a short survey. Respondents are asked to simply choose their county and select the survey category or categories that represent them or their organization.  

https://myconnectedcommunity.org/hardin-county/

https://myconnectedcommunity.org/jefferson-county/

https://myconnectedcommunity.org/orange-county/

A Technology Action Plan will be developed for each county by leveraging information from the survey and consulting with local stakeholders and leaders.  Collecting as many responses as possible will help ensure that no area is left out of the plan. The plan will leverage community resources and identify solutions for improving internet connectivity for families, businesses, and community organizations.

Current maps provided by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding the number of residents and businesses that have adequate broadband service may be overestimated. The goal of the survey is to clearly identify unique challenges and opportunities for expanding high-speed internet in Hardin, Jefferson, and Orange counties so that every family, business, and community organization can access the critical resources needed to be connected. SETRPC will work with CN Texas to help close the Digital Divide within the community.

The project is funded by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

The Connected program has been used in nearly 650 communities across the country to develop county or regional Technology Action Plans that offer both short- and long-term broadband solutions.

For more information or questions, email info@connectednation.org or head to connectednation.org/texas.

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About Connected Nation Texas: CN Texas is the statewide subsidiary of the national nonprofit Connected Nation. Its 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.