According to a Pew Research Study conducted last year, 93% of Americans use the internet, making the availability of high-speed broadband critical. Tuesday night, at a meeting of the Neosho City Council, we got an update on how that community is working to bring broadband to more of its residents.
The study by Pew goes on to say that of the 93% of internet users, 77% access the internet using broadband. Once broadband is installed, the benefits are multifaceted, including increased economic development and allowing more people to participate in telework.
Broadband internet is also a positive development for education, providing students and teachers access to various resources. Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs at Crowder College Chett Daniel is a Neosho Broadband Task Force member. He updated the group's progress Tuesday night.
"One of the factors with Starlink is it's really cost prohibitive for a lot of individuals, and one of the things that these grants are looking for is that you notice often is affordability because you can have (the) infrastructure, but if it's not accessible, then it isn't very useful to people who need it."
Daniel added that increased broadband would have to be constructed by different internet carriers due to the construction of the existing network and the lack of one company with the resources to cover all of Neosho and Newton county. For 89 9 KRPS, I'm Fred Fletcher-Fierro
