WALKER COUNTY, Ga. Walker County officials say access to broadband service remains a problem for approximately 13% of the county’s population.
But a new plan is in the works to ensure the entire county is fully connected to the internet.
The Walker County Board of Commissioners recently announced the ‘Digital Connection Plan’.
They say the plan would create a special designation that would make the county eligible for state and federal grants.
Officials say these grants can reduce the cost of expanding broadband infrastructure in underserved areas.
On Monday night at the Walker County Civic Center, residents with connectivity concerns had a chance to make their voices heard.
“The three adults in my house can’t get online at the same time unless we have two providers. So I’m paying roughly $150-$160 a month.”
Residents in underserved areas of Walker County say they are fed up with their lack of internet connectivity.
“I wake up late at night just so I can do any kind of banking. Disgusting. We shouldn’t be in this shape.”
Jamie Hulsey says the quality of his wireless internet varies from day to day.
“We lose internet access two to three times a day, and it will vary when we get it back. It could be an hour, it could be two hours. We just don’t know.”
Hulsey says he has always relied on using the Internet for certain everyday tasks.
“We have our small businesses off the farm and it disrupts online bill paying and a lot of things that we’re used to.”
County commissioners say the Walker County Connection Plan will fix these gaps in problem areas.
The county is partnering with the Chattanooga Regional Thrive Partnership to make this plan possible.
It is part of a larger Appalachian Digital Accelerator program in partnership with Connect Humanity.
The program seeks to provide connection plans for Bradley County and Whitfield County in addition to Walker.
Shannon Millsaps with Thrive Regional Partnership says…
“Everything we do touches the Internet, right? School work, applying for a job, calling for dinner or having dinner delivered, taking care of the kids. It’s important for us to have access.”
Millsaps says the grant money will only go to underserved communities.
She adds that the money will go to internet providers, not the county.
Millsaps also says this plan is about more than just achieving sustainable connectivity in rural areas.
“It’s also important for us to consider affordability, required capabilities, convenience with cybersecurity and privacy concerns.”
Millsaps says this process is not quick.
“I think we will continue to be in this business for the next 5 to 7 years. I mean, let’s think we’re going to close our eyes and next year, when this money starts flowing, everybody in this county is going to be hooked. , it’s just not reality.”
Georgia recently received more than $1 billion in federal funding from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
The administration says the money helps support broadband grant initiatives across the state.
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