Speaker: Access to broadband key for communities

Hovis’ appearance serves as kickoff for city’s Digital Inclusion Plan

FAYETTEVILLE — Availability of broadband serves as one aspect of getting a community on the same digital plane, according to an expert on modern networks. Residents also need devices and to know how to use them.

Members of the public heard from Joanne Hovis, CEO of the Washington-based Coalition for Local Internet Choice, at the library on Thursday. The appearance served as a kickoff for the launch of the city’s Digital Inclusion Plan, which aims to make affordable broadband and related services accessible to all residents.

Hovis defined broadband as Internet service of 25 megabits per second from a network to a device and 3 megabits per second in the other direction.

Reliable Internet serves a key role in maintaining the health, education and environmental standards of a community, Hovis said. Cities and Internet providers are partnering more and more to better serve residents, schools and businesses at mutual benefit, she said.

“It’s not about video, it’s not about gaming, it’s not about entertainment,” she said. “It’s about health care and democracy and economic opportunity that’s available to everyone.”

For example, children of low-income families may not have Internet access at home after school hours. Some residents may not be able to get online after the library closes. In rural parts of town, Internet access can be spotty or nonexistent, Hovis said.

That’s when a city can step up to help, she said.

As part of the city’s plan, the Digital Inclusion Task Force, consisting of city, library, university and public school officials, will hold events in the coming months to gather public input on what needs to improve with the city’s digital infrastructure.

“There will be one component of it that tries to assess gaps in service and gaps in neighborhoods where certain services simply don’t exist,” said Susan Norton, the city’s director of communication. “If we can find pockets of inequity then we can try to create incentives for providers to come in.”

Brad Simmons, who works in software development, applauded the city’s interest in making broadband affordable to low-income residents. Public school students often have to use iPads or finish homework online, creating inequity for some, he said.

Holding public meetings such as Thursday’s could help open to the door to better practices, Simmons said.

“Involving everyone’s opinion and not just the city’s and whatever corporate powers that may be at play — I think that’s a really cool and hugely respectable thing,” he said. “I’m glad they’re doing it and I’ll be happy to contribute where I can.”