(MENAFN- PR Newswire)
County officials stress public-private partnerships are essential to bridging the digital divideATLANTA, July 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — During last week’s National Association of Counties Annual conference & Exposition, Cox Communications partnered with Broadband Communities to convene various county elected officials to discuss rural broadband expansion challenges and opportunities during a reception and Digital Equity Dialogue event. Key Takeaways:
Continue Reading
Panelist discuss the importance of partnership and rural broadband connectivity during the Rural Action Caucus at the National Association of Counties Annual Conference.
Deploying broadband to rural areas has a direct impact on the economic vitality of counties.
County officials seek to partner with organizations that prioritize affordability and digital literacy.
What’s More: Feedback from county officials at the event aligned with a recent Cox survey which polled customers and community leaders in areas previously unserved or underserved with high-speed internet.Survey respondents indicated that the availability of high-speed internet in new market areas:
Stimulates economic growth in rural communities;
Narrows the education gap between lower- and higher-income households; and
Encourages younger generations to remain in their communities, with greater prospects of remote learning and working.
Additionally, 86% of consumers say access to broadband has improved their lives. Partnerships Drive Connected Communities: When asked what county officials can do to make rural broadband expansion projects successful during a panel discussion at the Rural Action Caucus meeting, Commissioner Ron Burrows, Rogers County, Oklahoma said, “Work with someone who already has a plan and has done the work to solve the problem and will help you get to the finish line. As we talked to all the providers in our area, we were re …
