Description
A digital ready community has an active technology action plan and is committed to ensuring ALL residents have access to equitable high-speed internet and the skills to meaningfully engage with businesses, government, and community anchor institutions. Using digital applications and other resources available via high-speed internet, a digital ready community is committed to increasing economic opportunity and a better quality of life for its residents. A digital ready community has the infrastructure and the digital skills necessary to attract businesses and new jobs for its residents driven by both local and outside businesses.
Goals
Wharton County should proceed in becoming a digital ready community in the next six months by appointing a liaison to lead community engagement efforts around broadband with local stakeholders, teaching digital skills to residents and businesses, and providing Wi-Fi in public places.
Actions
Action 1 – Appoint a single point of contact within the local government
The development and organization of a liaison’s office begins with the champions of this survey: County Judge Phillip Spenrath; Josh Owens, Wharton Economic Development Corporation Executive Director; and Carolyn Gibson, Executive Director of El Campo City Development Corporation. They will guide the process through the appointing of a liaison. A liaison can educate, advise, and promote broadband in Wharton County. This person should understand how state and federal grants work and be accountable for incoming money from a variety of federal and state programs the county will be receiving. This person is also responsible for updated website information the community, providers, and businesses need to do business in the county. This can be done by full-time or part-time hiring; providing a stipend; reorganizing workloads; or hiring a consultant. Entities can share services and cost.
Once a liaison is appointed, all responsibilities and duties move to that office. The liaison can be part of the Wharton County administration, part of the Wharton Economic Development Corporation, or El Campo City Development Corporation. The important part to remember is there is one point of contact for all things broadband, and this is their job.
Action 2 – Use resolutions or Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) stating needs and goals for Wharton County
Each entity should sign their commitment and review progress every six months. Entities include Wharton City Council, El Campo City Council, East Bernard Board of Aldermen, and Wharton County Commissioners’ Court. Mr. Owens should present the MOU or Resolution to the governing bodies for signatures and review yearly. The liaison should present updates to the elected officials every six months concerning broadband grants and loans that are available or that Wharton County has applied to receive, new private/public partnerships being considered, any additional households and residents receiving broadband access, any new providers in town, and keep all elected bodies informed of any updates from the Houston-Galveston Area Council.
Action 3 – Provide digital skills and access to training for residents and businesses
The liaison office should take the lead on providing digital skills to the community, but other organizations can host classes: Wharton Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture, El Campo Chamber of Commerce, Wharton County Library System, and Wharton County Junior College, for example. The classes can be taught by local experts, nonprofits, or offered online. This is inexpensive to offer and should be done immediately. Below are some free digital skills training resources:
Action 4 – Incorporate broadband development and planning within local budgets
Wharton County and its cities should develop a budget with the liaison’s input. All outside state and federal money should be listed along with any local monies. All projects should be listed with cost and where the money is coming from. There are economic benefits to increased connectivity, and it is said we measure what we care about. As part of the budget, Wharton County, El Campo, and East Bernard should measure cost vs. revenues of broadband services. Internet connectivity provides employment opportunities, allows workers to live in rural counties instead of big cities, enables next-generation farming capabilities, allows telemedicine capabilities, and more. This revenue can offset the cost local governments contribute to provide broadband to Wharton County residents.
Action 5 – Provide high-speed internet in public places easily accessible to its residents
The liaison’s office, Wharton County Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, El Campo Chamber of Commerce and the Wharton County Library System should promote Wi-Fi services already publicly available. This can include public Wi-Fi in restaurants, K-12 schools, higher education facilities such as Wharton County Junior College, transit stations such as the Valley Transit Bus Center, Wharton County Library System, hotels, hospitals, coffee shops, bookstores, gas stations, department stores, supermarkets, and RV parks/campgrounds. Wharton County may have a unique center to provide Wi-Fi, such as the Wharton County Civic Center and the El Campo Civic Center.
This can be promoted through websites, social media, and in businesses. Residents who cannot access the internet at home should have public Wi-Fi available to conduct business such as banking, insurance, and shopping online.
Responsible Parties
- The development and organization of a liaison’s office begins with Carolyn Gibson, Executive Director, El Campo City Development Corporation, and Josh Owens, Executive Director, Wharton Economic Development Corporation.
- The liaison and the governing officials should work in conjunction under an MOU or a resolution.
- The Economic and Development Director of Wharton County should develop a budget with the liaison’s input.
- The liaison’s office, Wharton County Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, El Campo Chamber of Commerce and the Wharton County Library System should promote Wi-Fi services already publicly available.
Resources
Below are free digital skills training resources:
- AARP Joins with Nonprofit to Teach Tech to Older Adults: AARP
Additional Resources:
- 5 Reasons Why You Should Offer Free Wi-Fi to Your Customers: Spectrio