Connect Ohio Launches Every Citizen Online Broadband Adoption Program

Connect Ohio, a Connected Nation state-based program, has launched a unique initiative to help Ohioans gain access to free computer and broadband training classes. This program, called Every Citizen Online, is a partnership with more than 100 libraries and community colleges across Ohio.

For Connect Ohio, this program is a new way to help Ohio residents understand and experience the impact of broadband. Since 2008, Connect Ohio has been working in the state to expand broadband adoption and use. Historically, the program has focused on broadband mapping and community technology planning efforts.

Every Citizen Online takes it one step further — by offering free computer classes to adults who have limited experience with computers and high-speed Internet.

Funded by a $10 millon federal grant (a $6.9 million BTOP grant and $3.1 million in matching funds), the program plans to help more than 200,000 state residents by offering free computer training classes, which will introduce first-time adult users to the wide range of communication, education, and healthcare tools available online.

In an effort to get the word out, Connect Ohio launched a statewide public awareness campaign today, with extensive television, radio, and print spots.

Here is one of the television announcements:

Classes are scheduled to begin in January 2011 at libraries and community colleges throughout the state and will continue for two years.

To learn more, visit http://www.connectohio.org/consumer_training/.

Connected Nation Interviewed About Contribution to the National Broadband Mapping Effort

Directions Magazine recently interviewed Connected Nation’s Ashley Littell, manager of GIS services, along with Anne Neville, the state broadband data and development program director for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The interview focused on Connected Nation’s contribution to the national broadband mapping effort.

Read the interview here.

Broadband Research Findings Presented to the South Carolina Public Service Commission

Connected Nation’s Senior Stakeholder Relations Manager Corey Johns and Public Policy Director Raquel Noriega were in Columbia, South Carolina on December 2 to present a program review, research results, and a planning update at the South Carolina Public Service Commission Telecommunications Workshop.

The commissioners were provided with an overview of the state’s interactive broadband availability map, research findings about barriers to broadband adoption, and observations about South Carolina’s broadband landscape including advancement opportunities and projected 2011 Connect South Carolina program activities. Download the presentation here.

A key portion of the presentation was devoted to examining the 2010 South Carolina Statewide Broadband Inventory. This is the first broadband inventory in South Carolina to break out the data by both speed tiers and platforms. It provides policymakers with a unique perspective on the state’s broadband infrastructure and illustrates the progress South Carolina is making towards meeting the broadband adoption goals established on a national level.

For instance, the National Broadband Plan targets 4 Mbps for download speeds. This inventory shows that 89% of the South Carolina households served have a download speed of at least 10 Mbps.

In looking at the state’s platform comparisons, DSL is available to 88% of South Carolina households, and cable modem is available to 79% of these residents. However, fiber to the home is available to 1.3%.

These findings will be published in a larger study early next year.

For more information about what Connect South Carolina is doing to promote broadband adoption in South Carolina communities, visit http://www.connectsc.org/.