Saline County seeks community input on broadband Internet

From SALINA POST

In today’s digital age, reliable broadband access is essential to economic growth, education, healthcare and overall quality of life. To address broadband deficiencies and improve connectivity throughout the county, Saline County has contracted with Design Nine, Inc. of Blacksburg, VA, to conduct a comprehensive broadband study.

Design Nine will examine existing broadband assets offered by local telecom providers and cable companies. The analysis will cover the types of broadband services available, usage patterns and, most importantly, gaps in coverage. Based on this data, Design Nine will propose strategies for improving broadband services in Saline County.

The success of this project is completely dependent on the participation of the residents of Saline County. Saline County encourages every resident and business owner to complete broadband surveys to provide the essential data needed to shape the future of broadband in Saline County. The data collected will empower local leaders and stakeholders to make informed decisions about expanding broadband access in Saline County.

To view the Saline County Broadband Survey of Residents, click here

To view the Saline County Broad Business Survey, click here

Before encuestas and Spanish click here.

No internet? No problem

Paper surveys will also be available at selected locations across the county to collect information on broadband coverage from those who may not have the ability to complete the survey online.

Eagle Communications Media Center, 1825 S Ohio St, Salina, KS 67401
Ad Astra Coffee, 135 N Santa Fe Ave, Salina
Assaria Hardware, 104 W Main St, Assaria, KS 67416
Gypsum Exit 14 Restaurant, 512 Maple St, Gypsum, KS 67448
Salina Public Library, 301 W Elm St, Salina, KS 67401
The city/district building, Rr. 300 W. Ash, Salina, KS 67401
Salina Family Healthcare Center, 651 E Prescott Rd, Salina, KS 67401

Equity Broadband Community Forum

Join Saline County and Design Nine at the Salina Public Library for a come-and-go community forum to discuss broadband equity in Saline County.

Location: Salina Public Library Technology Center, 301 W. Elm St., Salina, KS 67401

Date and time: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 13:00 – 15:00

Andrew Cohill, PhD, President and CEO of Design Nine, Inc., and Jack Maytum, senior broadband analyst for Design Nine, invite area business owner/operators to a “Broadband for Business” community forum on the 26 June from 8 to 10 am. in the Visit Salina Annex.

More about Design Nine

Design Nine was founded in 1987 by Andrew Cohill to provide technology advice and services to community, business and public clients. Over the years, the company has grown steadily and now offers a range of broadband network services, including early stage planning, network architecture and design, and network construction supervision and project management. Design Nine is one of the few firms in the United States with experience in designing, building and operating open access broadband networks.

Design Nine projects have included the award-winning nDanville Municipal Open Network, Wired Road Open Access Network, New Hampshire FastRoads, Rockbridge Area Network Authority Network, City of Eagan, Minnesota Open Access Network and over another hundred community planning efforts in more than twenty states. Design Nine’s senior management has extensive and hands-on experience in the design and management of telecommunications and broadband systems.

Design Nine, Inc. is a Virginia corporation with its principal office at the Corporate Research Center in Blacksburg, Virginia. Design Nine has satellite offices in Keene, New Hampshire and Knoxville, Tennessee.

Andrew Cohill is the President of Design Nine. His telecom career began in the early eighties with work at AT&T Bell Labs.

Cohill has helped communities develop, build and operate state-of-the-art fiber and wireless broadband networks since 1993 when Virginia Tech named him the first Director of the Blacksburg Electronic Village, the world’s first community broadband project internet based.

Cohill has worked with more than 300 communities worldwide on the planning, design and telecommunications engineering of next-generation wireless and high-performance fiber broadband networks. He has provided assistance to community broadband projects throughout North America, including Canada and the Caribbean. Design Nine provides broadband planning, network construction services and network operations services to public and private customers throughout the US

Cohill has written and spoken widely on the future of communities and the relationship between community and economic development and broadband infrastructure. He has a worldwide reputation for his work helping governments and communities make smart technology investments that support jobs, economic development and smart Internet use.

Jack Maytum is a senior broadband analyst with Design Nine. During his ten years with the company, Maytum has worked on dozens of city, county and city broadband feasibility and planning studies. He specializes in community engagement activities, stakeholder engagement and service provider outreach.

Maytum’s experience in telecom network management began as a communications officer at Amy Signal Corp. Later, Maytum worked for AT&T, coordinating the efforts of sales staff and network professionals who provided telecom services to Connecticut’s 147,000 business customers.

As Director of Marketing for Nestor Traffic Systems, Maytum prepared technical information for presentations to mayors, councils and county managers across the US regarding the installation and operation of red light network cameras and detection systems. of speed. He also taught network programming for five years at Northeastern State University’s Engineering program.

Funded by $48,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, this study is critical to identifying service gaps and developing strategies to improve broadband access.