On Friday, January 13, the newly formed Lake County Special Committee on Broadband held its first meeting. The meetings are planned to be held monthly on the Friday of the last week of the month at 8:30 a.m. The Committee will focus on determining the current state of broadband in Lake County and come up with recommendations for improvement. The Committee will consider our resident’s access, affordability, and use in their work.
The Lake County Board recognizes that having a high-speed internet connection is necessary in today’s world and is an essential need in our education, work, health care, and communication. However, having a connection alone is not enough. Access at an appropriate speed, training and support on how to access the internet, having financial means to obtain appropriate service and devices, are also essential. Over the next few months, the Committee will look at the currently available infrastructure and programs to determine the best way meet these needs to support all residents.
They will develop a vision and design and implement a plan while taking advantage of state and local technology and federal grant program opportunities. Collaborating with local community partners will be a key factor in achieving broadband equity and inclusion so that Lake County continues to flourish and grow for years to come.
Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart shared, “I am incredibly thankful that grant funding is being made available on a state and federal level so that, with the dedicated work of the Special Committee on Broadband and the Board, we have a number of funding options that could bring high-speed internet access to more Lake County residents and businesses.”
According to Jennifer Clark, Chair of the Special Committee on Broadband, “This is a once in a generation opportunity to strategically invest in our technology infrastructure. This committee, along with the entire Lake County Board, are committed to ensuring that Lake County residents and businesses have access to the technology they need to be successful now and, in the years, to come.”
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Tammy Chatman Chief Communications Officer Email
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