Georgia Magazine - October 2016 - 22

Hey, rural Georgia: Got broadband? BY SEN. STEVE GOOCH AND REP. DON PARSONS I n this year's session of the Georgia General Assembly, members of the Senate and House overwhelmingly approved Senate Resolution 876, creating the 2016 Joint High-Speed Broadband Communications Access for all Georgians Study Committee. The resolution establishes the study committee with the following findings and objectives: * High-speed broadband communications affects the development of rural communities today in the same way highway construction and electrification did in the 20th century. * A majority of Georgia's underserved households and businesses are in rural areas. * Without access to high-speed broadband communications, Georgia's rural communities lack a key catalyst for economic growth, resulting in a lower quality of life. * High-speed broadband communications is required for rural communities to compete for company locations and new jobs and removes barriers to economic development, educational opportunities, high-quality health care and other factors that support a thriving and Hearing dates and locations The first hearing was held Aug. 31 at the Georgia Capitol, and the second hearing was Sept. 15 at North Georgia Technical College in Toccoa. The remaining five committee meeting dates and locations weren't available at press time for this issue. To find out where the rest of the meetings will be held, call Sen. Gooch's office at (404) 656-9221, or Rep. Parsons' office at (404) 656-9198 or visit bit.ly/jhsbbca. 22 The study committee needs your input! The Georgia Broadband Center at UGA's Carl Vinson Institute of Government is collecting data from individual homeowners and all sectors of internet users to provide the study committee with as much end-user information as possible as it considers potential solutions to bridge the digital divide for rural Georgia. To learn more about this effort and to share your internet experience, visit broadband.georgia.gov. Sen. Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega) sustainable economy. * The committee will explore the idea of public-private partnerships and other nontraditional solutions to address rural broadband as a critical economic development need. The study committee consists of five state senators and five state representatives. The other House and Senate members are as follows: * Sen. Tyler Harper (R-Ocilla) * Sen. Rick Jeffares (R-McDonough) * Sen. John Wilkinson (R-Toccoa) * Sen. David Lucas (D-Macon) * Rep. Robert Dickey (R-Musella) * Rep. Susan Holmes (R-Monticello) * Rep. Kevin Tanner (R-Dawsonville) * Rep. Bill Werkheiser (R-Glennville) More online at www.georgiamagazine.org Rep. Don Parsons (R-Marietta) The study committee will work with the Georgia Broadband Center, housed at the University of Georgia's (UGA's) Carl Vinson Institute of Government. The center is a collaboration among the Georgia Technology Authority, Sanborn (a mapping services company), the Vinson Institute, the state's regional commissions and broadband service providers. It was created to provide information resources to increase Georgia's participation in the digital economy. Sen. Steve Gooch and Rep. Don Parsons are co-chairs of the Joint High-Speed Broadband Communications Access for all Georgians Study Committee. GEORGIA MAGAZINE http://broadband.georgia.gov http://www.bit.ly/jhsbbca http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - October 2016