Two Connect Ohio Employees Support Local United Way Through Music

Photo by Coshocton Tribune

For the second year, the musical duo Point Blank Range, comprised of Connect Ohio’s Bart Winegar and Brad Fuller, provided the entertainment for Coshocton’s United Way kick-off event, Taste of Coshocton County, Thursday evening.

The event draws a crowd of 500 anticipating delicious food tastings from local restaurants and caterers while raising money for local charities. Attendees receive 10 tastes for $10, and then vote on their favorite food establishment involved in the event.

Winegar and Fuller shared their musical talents with attendees, offering an eclectic mix of pop, classic rock, and blues for the two-hour event.

“We both have been involved with the local United Way in one form or another for decades because it supports many critical local programs,” said Winegar, technical outreach manager for Connect Ohio. “We are very pleased to volunteer our time and talents for such an important and far-reaching cause.”

“The United Way serves 21 organizations in Coshocton County,” said Fuller, state operations manager for Connect Ohio. “I have always believed that it is important to give back to the community that gave so much to me as I was growing up. The United Way is a perfect way to do that.”

To view more photos and a news article about the event from the Coshocton Tribune, click here.

Crystal Broadband Project to Connect Village Residents in Monroe County

Earlier this week, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development announced more than $100 million in Community Connect grant funds were being awarded for 23 broadband projects throughout the country. The Community Connect program provides funding for broadband access to residents in remote areas and low-income communities. Crystal Broadband Networks, Inc., a broadband provider based in Chicago, was awarded $570, 800 of the $100 million for a project in rural Stafford, Ohio.

Stafford is a village located in Monroe County with a population of less than 100 people, according to 2010 census information. Connect Ohio’s residential technology assessment research reveals 74% of Monroe County residents have access to the Internet and just 53% subscribe to home broadband service. Both statistics are below current statewide averages, but a significant increase from 2008 reports.

According to Jennifer Stephens, administrative manager for Crystal Broadband Networks, Inc., the Stafford project will provide residents with a local community center fully equipped with computers and high-speed wireless Internet for free use for at least two years. This will also include basic computer and Internet training classes, as interest demands, and detailed instruction on how to sign up for and use Wi-Fi. Schools and some government buildings will also be receiving free Wi-Fi access.

A 140-foot tower will be constructed within Stafford’s city limits to house the wireless Internet signal, which can then be shared with homes interested in paying for Internet service within a 6- to 15-mile radius. The construction of a tower is significant not only for Wi-Fi access to local residents, but because it can be used to improve emergency communications, cell phone coverage, and more throughout the Stafford and Monroe County area.

Stephens said the project is expected to create 11 full-time jobs, as well as some part-time contracting jobs.

Crystal Broadband Networks, Inc. was also granted funding for projects in Heidelberg, Kentucky, Yellow Rock, Kentucky, and Panther, West Virginia.

Additional information on the Community Connect awardees can be found at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2011/08/0375.xml.

Rural Ohio broadband project gets $570k

Crystal Broadband Networks, Inc. today received a $570,800 grant from the US Department of Agriculture for a broadband project in Stafford Village. The grant is part of the Community Connect program, which provides grants to rural, economically challenged communities.

More than $100 million in Community Connect funding was announced today.

"Without broadband, rural communities, agricultural producers, and business owners face a substantial challenge," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a news release. "These loans and grants will bring the benefits of broadband, including new educational, business, and public health and safety opportunities, to residents living in some of the most remote parts of our Nation."

Funds can be used to construct, acquire, or lease facilities to deploy broadband to community facilities such as schools and public safety buildings, as well as residents and businesses in the community, according to the USDA. Each project requires a matching contribution and must serve an area where broadband is not available. The grantee must agree to provide local community centers in the selected towns with at least 10 computers, which are accessible free for two years.

For more about the awards, see the release here.

Connect Ohio Shares Broadband Insight with Congressman Latta's Staff

Connect Ohio staff had the opportunity to discuss broadband in Ohio with Bethany Peck, senior legislative assistant for Congressman Robert Latta (5th District, Ohio), Tuesday.

Congressman Latta is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. Peck handles telecommunication policy for Congressman Latta and came to Connect Ohio exploring first-hand perspectives on broadband availability throughout the state, existing barriers to expansion, and what the National Broadband Plan can mean for Ohio and beyond.

Connect Ohio Technical Outreach Manager Bart Winegar gave Peck an overview of Connect Ohio’s interactive resource BroadbandStat, which shows by address what households have broadband access and those that are still unserved (according to data gathered from more than 100 broadband providers throughout Ohio). Existing barriers to broadband service in rural areas and approaches to overcoming those barriers were discussed, as well as Connect Ohio’s customized propagation studies and business case analyses available to Ohio communities engaged in finding last-mile broadband connectivity.

“I’m extremely impressed to find Connect Ohio going to every effort to help ensure broadband expansion throughout the state,” said Peck. “The organization’s reporting, county profiles, and online resources are very helpful to us.”

High-speed Internet availability’s affect on economic development was also a key topic of the meeting. Peck was happy to hear of the Every Citizen Online free basic computer and Internet training for Ohio adults and how the program is complementing broadband expansion efforts.

“I really enjoyed meeting with Bethany (Peck) and am happy she found Connect Ohio’s programs beneficial to not only Ohioans, but to Congressman Latta’s staff and possibly the communications and technology subcommittee,” said Winegar.

For information on Congressman Latta, visit http://latta.house.gov/.
To find out more about the Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Communications and Technology, visit http://republicans.energycommerce.house.gov/subcomms/subcommittees.shtml.

Every Citizen Online All-Star Facility Award Presented to Putnam County ESC

Connect Ohio awarded the first Every Citizen Online (ECO) All-Star Facility Award to Putnam County Educational Service Center (ESC). The award was presented to Putnam County ESC employee and ECO instructor Gary Herman during Connect Ohio’s quarterly Technology Association Meeting ECO breakout lunch session held in Columbus June 24, 2011.

Left to right: Putnam County ESC and ECO instructor Gary Herman, Connect Ohio executive director Don Shirley, Connect Ohio state operation's manager Heather Delany

Connect Ohio ECO staff, including state operations managers and the executive director, choose the ECO All-Star Facility awardee based on meeting various program ‘hallmarks of excellence’. These include, but are not limited to, the number of adults taking ECO training at the facility’s locations, ECO program survey completion rate, creative promotional and community partnerships assisting in awareness and local success of the program, and the level of engagement of facility coordinators in the ECO program.

Congratulations Putnam County Educational Service Center!

Click here to view photos from an ECO training class at Putnam County ESC.

Shopping for Jobs, Groceries and Staying Connected Now Easier for Many in Knox County Thanks to Every Citizen Online

Every Citizen Online (ECO) instructor Jessica Horlacher has been training Knox County adults on the basics of the computer and using the Internet since the program’s launch at the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County. More than 125 first-time computer users have participated in the training program through the library thus far and Horlacher says although the majority seem to be between the ages of 60 and 90, there is a wide range in overall demographics and reasons for taking the training.

Horlacher’s July 26 class had 6 attendees, which included four senior citizens and Teresa and James Shuler, a couple in their 40s. The Shulers are both currently looking for a job and say they need to know more about the Internet in order to apply for positions. They just received a new laptop computer and use it to connect at a family member’s home and the local library. Both have dabbled on Facebook and have set up an e-mail account prior to the Every Citizen Online training.

“I read about (the training class) in the newspaper and signed us up,” said Teresa Shuler. “I’ve enjoyed learning how to use toolbars, the browser, and just how to use the computer in general.”

The Shulers are also utilizing their new connectivity to help the family save time and money.

“Now, we can look up Carnival’s weekly (grocery) ad before driving 30 miles to the Newark store in hopes of sales,” shared Shuler. “That’s a big help.”

William Vernon, a senior in the class, wants to catch up to his brother’s online communication knowledge.

“I already e-mail and want to learn to cut and paste and to add attachments to my e-mails,” said Vernon. “I’m a retired plant worker and like to e-mail former co-workers, other retirees, and family. My brother in Oklahoma City is an expert at this stuff and I need to catch up with him.”

Another senior participant, Melodee Hitchcock, is also seeking Internet knowledge to increase family bonding.

“My grandson loves to play RuneScape online and I want to be able to play along with him,” said Hitchcock.

Hitchcock has a computer and Internet at home and says the ECO training has helped her feel more comfortable using it.

“‘I’m a little more confident that I won’t mess up,” said Hitchcock. “Before, I was afraid I would freeze my computer during searches when no one was home to help me or that I wouldn’t know how to get out of something. Now, I don’t feel scared about that.”

All class participants said they felt they were leaving the class with a lot of useful information and new skills. Though the information can be overwhelming, the ECO classes prove to be a perfect first step toward computer and Internet adoption for many Ohio adults.

View additional photos from this training class on Connect Ohio's Facebook page.