Connected Nation In the News

Barry County joins Connect Michigan

2011-12-05T13:08:00.000-08:00

From Julie Makarewicz | The Grand Rapids Press:

HASTINGS — Barry County has enrolled in a program seeking to increase access, reliability and use of broadband.

Connect Michigan is a statewide nonprofit organization promoting broadband expansion. Barry is only the second county in the state to begin working with Connect Michigan through a connected community certification program.

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Clare County leaders enroll in an innovative program

2011-12-05T13:04:00.000-08:00

From www.clarecountyreview.com:

Clare County leaders became the first in the state to enroll their community in an innovative program that seeks to boost the local economy and quality of life for residents though increased access, adoption, and use of broadband.

Staff from Connect Michigan, the statewide nonprofit promoting broadband expansion, led 16 Clare County leaders through the steps of the new “Connected” community certification program that offers a comprehensive and localized way for communities to bridge the digital divide impacting many communities.

Read more from Clare County leaders enroll in an innovative program.

Summit to look at high-speed Internet for Nevada

2011-11-15T10:12:00.000-08:00

From Sandra Chereb, Associated Press via Reno Gazette-Journal

Getting Nevada -- and Nevadans -- on board and up to speed on connecting to a fast-paced world through high-speed Internet will be the focus of a one-day summit being held in Dayton. "Wired for Success" is being hosted today by nonprofit Connect Nevada and the governor's Nevada Broadband Task Force...

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Don't need broadband? Think again as providers look to educate consumers

2011-10-31T18:11:00.000-07:00

By Samantha Bookman | Fierce Telecom

Published: October 28, 2011

A couple of years ago I was having dinner with my uncle during a stopover in San Francisco. The conversation, as it is wont to do, turned eventually to the Internet, specifically to Facebook, which my uncle had joined but was not posting to very much. Why? I asked.

"Because it takes too long to load," he replied. "I have dialup."

I found this pretty amazing, considering he lives close enough to the city to get high-speed Internet, so I quizzed him a bit more about his reasons for staying with a dialup service. He had fairly sound ones: the price was very affordable; he wasn't locked into a service contract--important because his carpentry work often took him out of town for weeks at a time; the service was reliable; and he didn't see much use for Internet access beyond checking his email.

That conversation took place just as the Obama administration's broadband stimulus effort was gearing up, an initiative that now is in full swing, with broadband rolling out--at various speeds--well beyond urban areas and into rural ones. So I was very interested to see the results of a recent study that found that not only did 28 percent of Minnesota residents not subscribe to a broadband service, a significant portion of them weren't that interested in subscribing: 29 percent of those without broadband said there wasn't enough Internet content worth viewing.

Only 8 percent of the survey participants said that they didn't have access to broadband, so in the parts of Minnesota surveyed, which included rural areas, broadband access was not the biggest issue.

Minnesota wasn't the only state surveyed as part of an effort by Connected Nation. In South Carolina--where a battle for municipal broadband regulation was fought recently--around 43 percent of residents do not subscribe to broadband. Again, only 8 percent said broadband was not available to them.

FCC Praises Comcast for Internet Essentials Program

2011-09-20T07:06:00.000-07:00

Low-cost broadband initiative rolls out in D.C.

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable

Julius Genachowski, FCC chairman, Tuesday applauded Comcast for its Internet Essentials low-cost broadband initiative, while calling on the rest of the industry to do all it could to close the digital divide...

He also cited a Connected Nation study released Tuesday that showed that fewer than half (46%) of low-income homes with school age kids have broadband...

Read more from FCC Praises Comcast for Internet Essentials Program

Comcast, FCC intro low-cost Internet, digital literacy training for students

2011-09-20T07:01:00.000-07:00

By Rachel King/Smartplanet.com

Children who are eligible for free lunches under the National School Lunch Program are going to get a whole lot more bundled with that service for improving their education...

The FCC chairman also cited a survey from Connected Nation that found that only 46 percent of low-income households with children have adopted broadband, and that number plummets to 37 percent for minority low-income households...

Read more from Comcast, FCC intro low-cost Internet, digital literacy training for students

Millions Going to Expanding the Internet

2011-09-08T11:03:00.000-07:00

From adlinktechnology.com:

The state of South Carolina is also benefiting from millions of dollars in funds dedicated to expanding broadband to all residents. Overall, South Carolina has received almost 16 million dollars. Officials say this is a great way for citizens to actually see where the money from the Recovery Act is going and how it is affecting their lives...

South Carolina has partnered with Connected Nation in order to do much of the work for the broadband internet expansion. The first step of the process for Connected Nation was to map the state and determine just how many people are using broadband and where more broadband support is needed...

To read more click here.

Expanded broadband access in rural Michigan sought

2011-08-13T09:25:00.000-07:00

By the Midland Daily News

Posted August 13, 2011

Business and community groups from across the Great Lakes Bay Region have come together to ask the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take action to expand access to hi-speed mobile broadband service across northern lower Michigan.

The FCC is currently considering a proposed merger between AT&T and T-Mobile that, if approved, would provide access to high-speed mobile broadband service to a majority of Michigan businesses, farmers and families.

Local groups calling for approval of the merger include the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance, Great Lakes Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, the Midland Area Chamber of Commerce, Saginaw Future, Inc. and Greater Gratiot Development.

"Broadband connects families and job makers across mid-Michigan to the rest of the world and the global economy," said Terry Moore, president and CEO of the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance. "Hi-speed Internet can connect our region to the rest of the world, but only if residents have access. Unfortunately, far too many job makers and families in the rural tri-county area do not have that critical access yet."

To read more click here.

Survey: Texas companies with broadband Internet outperform those without it

2011-08-04T10:50:00.000-07:00

By Laylan Copelin/Austin American Statesman

Many Austin conventioneers get their first taste of Texas barbecue just outside the Austin Convention Center's doors at Iron Works BBQ, but it's the restaurant's online business that keeps them coming back...

A survey of 800 Texas businesses by Connected Texas indicates that the median revenue of companies with broadband connections is 45 percent greater than companies without the faster Internet connections...

Read more Survey: Texas companies with broadband Internet outperform those without it

Broadband Expansion Going Nowhere Fast

2011-08-03T10:25:00.000-07:00

South Carolina Still Lags Behind in High-Speed Digital Access

BY COREY HUTCHINS | freetimes

In October 2009, the state Budget and Control Board quietly approved a $143 million contract that effectively leased out 95 percent of the state’s broadcast bandwidth — owned by the public for decades — to two private telecommunications companies for the next 30 years.

Those companies — Washington-based Clearwire and Virginia-based DigitalBridge — were expected to build out connectivity to rural and underserved areas of the state.

Nearly two years later, the strategy for expanding broadband access in the Palmetto State appears static.

To read more click here.

Mapping Helps Get More Connected

2011-07-19T10:27:00.000-07:00

By Pam Cassady, The Bowling Green Daily News

Connected Nation tests for broadband availability as part of an effort to increase Internet access

While children splashed in the fountain at Circus Square Park on Monday afternoon, a group of men gathered around high-tech equipment and listened as Chip Spann, director of engineering and technical services at Connected Nation, explained how to validate broadband service data.

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Locals Join Statewide Broadband Initiative

2011-07-18T09:37:00.000-07:00

From Silver Pinyon Journal:

WINNEMUCCA – Community leaders in Humboldt County have joined Connect Nevada’s statewide initiative to expand broadband adoption and use. They met July 12 to form an advisory committee in support of the effort to increase technology use in the county.

Heading up that committee are Bill Sims, of the Humboldt Development Authority, and Mike Bell, of the Humboldt County Commission. Both are also involved with the Winnemucca Futures Project, which identified broadband access in the county as one area that needed improvement – along with communication infrastructure in general.

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Connected Nation Furthers Efforts to Reach Rural Areas

2011-07-18T09:07:00.000-07:00

By Caitlin Coffey/WBKO.com

For most people, all the information you could hope for is accessible with a click of the mouse.

But for many rural areas across South Central Kentucky broadband service is not available.

There is a national push to get all rural areas broadband Internet, and one organization helping research and find areas that need it is Connected Nation.

Read more Connected Nation Furthers Efforts to Reach Rural Areas

Connect Ohio program opens 'whole new world' to Marion couple

2011-07-14T13:24:00.000-07:00

MARION - They're a two-computer couple now.

Roseanna Wenig and her husband, Ralph, won't have to share computer time anymore.

The Marion woman won a Dell laptop computer, valued at $399, following her participation in the Every Citizen Online program, a free statewide basic computer and Internet training program.

Read more Connect Ohio program opens 'whole new world' to Marion couple

Air Advantage Proposes Swapping Two Free Wireless Hotspots for Cell Tower Use

2011-07-13T13:32:00.000-07:00

The high speed Internet company, backed by the county, wants to bring wireless broadband high-speed Internet to the township.

By Jen Anesi | OaklandTownshipPatch

Representatives from Oakland County and Air Advantage, a Frankenmuth-based Internet service provider, presented a plan during Tuesday's Board of Trustees meeting to bring wireless broadband high-speed Internet to the township.

Air Advantage said its Broadband Stimulus Project would make high-speed Internet available to residents in more rural areas who are underserved – or not served at all – by other Internet service providers like Comcast and AT&T.

The project is part of a $7.2 billion federal project to bring wireless Internet to underserved and rural communities throughout the nation. Air Advantage received $64.2 million in grants and loans through the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund the project in 2010; the Michigan company also gave $10.2 million in private contributions to the project.

“We believe everybody should have access to the Internet," said Phil Bertolini, deputy county executive and CIO for Oakland County.

To read more click here.

What could better Internet access mean for Michigan's recovery?

2011-07-07T13:59:00.001-07:00

By Rick Haglund |AnnArbor.com

More than 90 percent of Michigan residents have access to high-speed Internet service at home, but about a third don’t subscribe because it’s either too expensive or they don’t think they need it, a new survey shows.

The study by the Michigan Public Service Commission and Connect Michigan is the first to assess how people use the Internet in the state.

Officials say the results have broad implications for policymakers and Internet providers planning for the future needs of their customers, as well as for the state’s economy.

To read more click here.

Byrum: Broadband can help grow ag economy

2011-07-06T13:58:00.000-07:00

Lansing State Journal
Op-Ed

Expanding high-speed broadband access presents a real opportunity for Michigan to grow our economy, especially in rural areas.

For Michigan agriculture, broadband access can help rural businesses, farms and communities truly compete in a 21st century global economy, by accessing information faster, attracting investments and creating new jobs in areas of our state that typically struggle to get access to new technology. That's why Michigan agri-businesses are excited about the potential broadband expansions into rural areas that the AT&T-T-Mobile merger would create.

To read more click here.

MPSC, Connect Michigan announce new effort to expand broadband opportunities in Michigan

2011-06-17T08:20:00.000-07:00

From the River County Journal:

Representatives of K-12 education, higher education, healthcare, non-profits, tourism, business, agriculture, government and broadband service providers have joined with the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) and Connect Michigan to expand broadband’s availability and adoption in Michigan...

Read more MPSC, Connect Michigan announce new effort to expand broadband opportunities in Michigan

Connect Michigan, MPSC In New Push For Broadband

2011-06-16T08:31:00.000-07:00

From CBS-Detroit:

In a state where millions still don’t subscribe to broadband, a new effort is under way to expand access to the essential utility of the information age.

Connect Michigan and the Michigan Public Service Commission convened the first Collaborative Broadband Committee meeting Thursday in Lansing...

Read more from Connect Michigan, MPSC In New Push For Broadband

Study: High-speed Internet the connection to greater Iowa revenues

2011-06-07T11:02:00.000-07:00

by Donnelle Eller/ Des Moines Register

Iowa businesses with broadband connections are likely to generate more revenue, a new report today shows.

Businesses with high-speed Internet connections have median annual revenues of about $600,000, nearly $300,000 more than businesses without broadband, said Connect Iowa, a group partnering with the Iowa Department of Economic Development to inventory and map broadband use.

Read more from Study: High-speed Internet the connection to greater Iowa revenues

Program Awards Computers To Boys & Girls Clubs

2011-05-23T08:36:00.000-07:00

From News Channel 5:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - It's essential that all kids learn how to use a computer. On Monday, a group called Connected Tennessee gave even more students a chance to get hands-on-experience.

Computers 4 Kids "Preparing Tennessee's Next Generation for Success" program awarded the Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee with more than 150 brand new computers...

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High Speed Internet is Key for Business Growth

2011-05-16T10:03:00.000-07:00

From Your News Now/Lima, Ohio:

In an economy which is still struggling, one Ohio non-profit believes they've found a key component to improving revenues. A recent survey from the organization, Connect Ohio, shows a link between high speed internet use and a businesses bottom line....

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Study: Tennessee businesses with high-speed Internet make more money

2011-05-13T09:05:00.000-07:00

From the Nashville Business Journal:

High-speed Internet and higher revenue go hand-in-hand, according to a new Connected Tennessee study.

Tennessee businesses with high-speed Internet recorded $400,000 more in median annual revenue than businesses without broadband, the study found.

Read more: Study: Tennessee businesses with high-speed Internet make more money | Nashville Business Journal

Businesses with internet report more revenues in US - study

2011-05-12T09:22:00.000-07:00

From Telecompaper:

Businesses with broadband have a clear advantage in revenue and thus potential job creation over businesses without it, according to a study by the Connected Nation. The research shows that businesses using high-speed internet connections report median annual revenues USD 200,000 more than businesses without broadband.

Read more from Businesses with Internet Report More Revenues in US