Dr. RoseMary Watkins, director of Alabama Southern University’s Southern Normal Campus, has been working with ASU staff to secure grants that would make broadband possible for many rural residents.
“We are joining the South Central Alabama Broadband Consortium in applying for three grants that have been announced by the Department of Commerce,” Watkins said. “ASU joined the consortium in hopes of helping to create broadband access to underserved communities in Alabama. There is a large number of residents in this area that fall into the underserved category.”
The availability of $4.7 billion in grants was announced by the Department of Commerce as the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, Watkins said. “BTOP provides grants to support the deployment of broadband infrastructure in underserved areas,” Watkins said. “The grants will put funding into place that will allow broadband capacity at public computer centers to be enhanced. The grants will also allow for the implementation of sustainable adopting of broadband service in those areas.”
The three grants for which the consortium is applying would enable broadband accessibility to allow those currently unable to access the Internet to have a connection point, Watkins said.
“The consortium is a partnership of public and private universities as well as faith-based organizations and private corporations,” Watkins said. “Each of the members has a vision to see broadband available to every community, and we are working together to secure funding to make that happen.”
Support for the program could help with the application process, Watkins said. “We were fortunate to have the support of several industry, business and community leaders for the application of these grants,” she said. “Their show of support has been tremendous. Their comments and letters included in the application should be beneficial. We are certainly hoping for the best.”
In the application for the grant funding, the consortium members propose to deploy and utilize broadband infrastructure, including fiber and wireless, in underserved communities to deliver healthcare services as well as educational programs and e-learning opportunities. The funding would hopefully allow for the creation of jobs, promote economic growth and assist with e-commerce and personal development for the communities served, Watkins said.
“By having broadband accesses the capabilities to offer healthcare through telemedicine and videoconferencing would exist,” Watkins said. “The telemedicine component of the project would provide video-links for teleconferencing to mobile clinics. There is also an emergency medical service component of the grant that would place laptop or desktop computers in all response vehicles such as ambulances and fire department vehicles that provide emergency medical response. Those computers would be used to transmit data to the area hospital related to cardiac patients.”
In addition to emergency services, broadband access would also create many educational opportunities not currently seen in rural areas of the state. “The grant would allow publicly available computer access locations throughout the state,” Watkins said. “Locations could include community colleges, churches and community centers and would be available for use by local residents and businesses who may not otherwise have access to the Internet through broadband outlets.”
Counties to be included in any funding received through awarded grants to the consortium include Escambia, Lowndes, Butler, Dallas, Wilcox, Jefferson and Crenshaw, Watkins said. Grant announcements are expected by the end of summer.
The funding of the proposed grants through the Department of Commerce came as a result of the “Connecting Alabama” initiative. Connecting Alabama is a multi-year initiative promoting the availability and adoption of broadband Internet access throughout the state of Alabama.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Lisa Tindell
Quelle/Source: Brewton Standard, 02.05.2010
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