June 5, 2023 |
Photo – Internet Cables – Bigfoot99 file photo
The Wyoming Business Council will host a series of in-person public input meetings about broadband internet access.
In 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which provides funding to various nation-wide infrastructure sectors, such as energy and transportation. The new federal law obligates over $42-million in federal spending to increase the availability of high-speed internet access across the country through a program called Broadband Equity Access and Development, or BEAD.
Starting this month, the Wyoming Business Council will be visiting towns around the state to gather information about resident’s thoughts on their broadband internet access. Wyoming Business Council Broadband Manager Elaina Zempel said the meetings are necessary for the state to be eligible for BEAD funding.
Zempel said the meetings will allow the public to express any comments or concerns they have about internet access in their area.
Using information gathered from the meetings, Zempel said the Wyoming Business Council can request government funding. The broadband manager said the money will be used to supply as many residents as possible with 120 megabits per second download speed internet.
Zempel said fixed wireless transmitter sites and satellite internet would be needed for areas where fiberoptic cable couldn’t be used. She said Wyoming’s large size and sparse population makes it impossible to provide everyone in the state with high-speed internet.
Public input is required for the state to receive BEAD funding. Zempel said people who aren’t able to make it to one of the in-person meetings should go to the Wyoming Business Council website and fill out a survey.
On Wednesday, June 7th, the Wyoming Business Council will be at the Carbon County Higher Education Center, at 1615 Harshman Street. The meeting will be from 9:00 to 11:30am. The list of other meeting dates and locations as well as the broadband surveys can be found on the Wyoming Business Council website at wyomingbusiness.org by opening the Communities tab and clicking on Broadband.
