COLUMBUS, Ind. — Created only a few weeks ago, the Bartholomew County Broadband Initiative Committee has already recruited 13 members and is offering a survey to rural and urban residents on internet/broadband needs.
Headed by Bartholomew County Commissioner-elect Tony London, the committee includes elected county officials and a representative of the city of Columbus, as well as professionals in information technology, education, economic development, and health care.
Since Bartholomew County REMC will likely play a prominent role in the future of broadband capacity in rural areas, a representative of the electrical cooperative has also been placed on the committee, London said.
Many in the group have already spent a considerable amount of time to identify underserved areas, as well as attempt to attract service providers capable of expanded service and higher speed options, said London. He will replace District 3 County Commissioner Rick Flohr next year.
While the committee has not formally met at this time, individual members have been busy using email to share information they have already obtained in recent years, London said.
County officials have been feeling increasing pressure to support rural broadband internet access since March, when students throughout Bartholomew County began virtual classes at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Commissioner Larry Kleinhenz said.
“People are so excited that I’ve had hundreds and hundreds of responses to me directly, thanking us for getting the ball rolling on this,” London said. “There are literally thousands of homes in this county that don’t have the network capability to deal with what is happening now – not to mention what will happen five years from now.”
The county needs as many Bartholomew County residents as possible to fill out the survey, and respondents are limited to one survey response per household.
For those who have access to the internet through work or an acquaintance, a link to the survey can be found on the home page of the Bartholomew County government homepage (bartholomew.in.gov). Labeled “Bartholomew County Broadband Interview County Resident Internet Service Survey,” the link is on the scroll found in the lower right hand corner of the home page.
Another link can be found by going to the Bartholomew County Broadband Initiative page on Facebook. For those without direct internet access, the survey can be taken by following the Facebook link on a smart phone, London said.
More information can be obtained by contacting the Bartholomew County Commissioner’s office at 812-379-1515.
For more on this story, see Friday’s Republic.
