VINCENNES, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — The Knox County Development Corporation (KCDC) announced today the reorganization of a countywide Rural Broadband Task Force, charged with evaluating current broadband coverage throughout the county and developing solutions for quicker buildout of this vital infrastructure.
Facilitated by Drew Garretson, Chairman of the Pantheon Ag + Tech Committee, and Chris Pfaff, CEO of KCDC, the group includes local leaders who represent a diverse balance of interests, including agribusiness, education, government, healthcare, utilities, real estate, and internet service providers.
“The need for high-speed internet service, especially in rural areas, has been an ongoing challenge and the pandemic has only amplified this need,” said Garretson. “Every household and farm in Knox County deserve reliable and affordable broadband connections to ensure access for online learning, remote working, and telehealth opportunities.”
The task force intends to conduct a countywide assessment of broadband coverage, identify state and federal programs to assist, recommend policies and initiatives, and promote a “broadband ready” community. It will also be important to identify broadband investment priority areas (BIPAs), which may benefit from anticipated federal funding.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced in December 2020 the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, “which is designed to close the digital divide in rural America and focus limited universal service funds on unserved areas that most need support.” The Knox Broadband Task Force will work to accelerate these impending investments.
“It is important to understand our efforts are intended to speed up the widespread coverage of broadband throughout the county, though universal connectivity is not likely for a number of years,” said Pfaff. “I am encouraged by the attention and additional resources being applied by the state and federal governments, and our task force will continue to leverage this for the betterment of Knox County.”
