Category Archive

Bowling Green, Kentucky (August 9, 2022) –  August 7 to 13 marks National Farmers Market Week. In our 21-plus years of operation, Connected Nation has seen time and again how high-speed internet can impact the rural communities that help keep local farm vendors afloat. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), there are more than 8,000 farmers’ markets across …

Lexington, Kentucky (August 4, 2022) — With the internet continuously growing, it is more important than ever to have access to the tools it has to offer. This means making connectivity for all a big priority, including for those age 55 and older. Though they didn’t grow up with it, seniors are purchasing tech products at an increasing rate. According …

Lake County, MI (August 3, 2022) – A digital desert is an area without any internet service providers (ISPs)*. Lake County, Michigan — a serene town surrounded by nature and home to about 12,000 residents — was on the cusp of being qualified as a digital desert. Without broadband (high-speed internet), Lake County struggled with maintaining its place in an …

Louisville, Kentucky (August 2, 2022) – States recently passed two Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) milestones by submitting letters of intent to participate in the Digital Equity Act (DEA) and Broadband Equity, Access, & Deployment (or BEAD) programs. Deadlines were July 12 and 18, respectively. The next milestone, which is coming up on August 15, is for states to …

Bowling Green, KY (August 2, 2022) — In spring 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic put a wrench in all things familiar in our lives. The world came to a complete halt as each one of us retreated to our homes to ensure the safety of our communities. The two worlds of COVID became very poignant — the effects of the pandemic …

Waukesha, Wisconsin (July 28, 2022) — In July 2022, the Consortium for School Network (CoSN) released the results of its Home Connectivity Study. This study analyzes internet connectivity and speeds among K-12 students in seven school districts across the country.  In it, researchers focused on where students completed their schoolwork, disparities between internet connectivity and speed at school vs. outside …

Leelanau County, Michigan (July 27, 2022) – Over the past couple years, Leelanau County, a small, rural community on the upper west peninsula of Michigan, has been in dire need of better broadband (high-speed internet) access for its residents. Like many other communities across the country, the issue of connection is at the top of its list of needed improvements. …

Fort Campbell, KY (July 20, 2022) — The results are in! Employment-related issues remain a chief concern for military-affiliated families. The Blue Star Families 2021 Military Family Lifestyle Survey results, published earlier this year, indicate that military spouse employment is the top issue affecting military families, and military spouses face unemployment rates that are four times the national average. There …

Fairview, TX (July 19, 2022) — When I was in college, I worked a retail job; a job that required me to be physically present with customers and coworkers. That was many years — and a global pandemic — ago. Now, I work with folks across the country from the comfort of my home.  In many ways, virtual work is …

Bowling Green, Kentucky (June 29, 2022) – Mid-Year LEO updates really come down to a discussion related to Starlink. Starlink’s competitors are estimated to be as much as 4-5 years behind. While there continue to be discussions about partnerships and launch dates, etc., we’re a long way from a commercial product. That said, let’s look at the state of Starlink …