Connecting the region's low-income families to reliable internet access can be among many topics abroach once the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners and Escambia County administrative division hold a joint meeting March seven at the commissioners' board chambers.
At the commissioners' agenda review meeting Feb. 2, County Commissioner Steven Barry announced his intent for the 2 entities to confer next month on a way to increase the region's awareness of Connect2Compete, a program where qualified candidates receive net service for less than $10 a month. Barry said though a portion of residents in Escambia County already cash in of the program, the county could devote public assets to facilitate increase awareness of it therefore a lot of United Nations agency qualify would apprehend to use.
By broadening the scope of those with convenient online access, it helps level the playing field for all students and families regardless of financial gain, he explained."If you can’t get on the internet from home, it greatly impedes your ability to be ultra-competitive and successful," he said.
Barry's tentative plan calls for the county investing its Community and Media Relations workplace to disperse data on the program. Officials would additionally conduct community workshops to assist those curious about applying. Representatives from Cox Communications, the county's primary internet service supplier, would attend. The provider is a leading partner within the region in providing the program, but the program's creator, nonprofit EveryoneOn in Washington D.C., lists other partners on its website such as Mediacom and Bright House Networks.
"Cox would actually bring a laptop and whatever paperwork is necessary to complete for those enrolling, and we could serve a household in 10-15 minutes," Barry said. "The community center is a natural place to hold those types of workshops."
Families who qualify include those with a child in elementary, middle or high school eligible or enrolled in the National School Lunch Program, a federal program that provides low-cost or free lunches to students. Those who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, colloquially known as food stamps, are eligible. Cox Communications also extends the program to students with family members who participate in low-income housing programs.
Cameron Johnson, public affairs manager for Cox Southeast Region, said the provider charges $9.95 a month plus taxes for those in Connect2Compete. The company provides the service at 10 megabytes per second, a speed fast enough to send email and share photographs. Users can also stream and download video at that speed, albeit not always in excellent quality.As part of the program, the company added in-home WiFi access last year — a feature that greatly assists students from the school district.
Malcolm Thomas, Escambia County School District superintendent, said starting in August, the school district will equip all students from third grade to high school seniors with a Google Chromebook laptop to take home. The school district already allows middle and high school students to carry the devices off of their campuses, but the elementary students currently must store them in their classrooms.
As an added benefit to the laptops, Thomas said the school district does not restrict their use to the students. Everyone in the households can take advantage of them, which for the adults could translate to applying for jobs over the internet, taking online courses or more convenience in paying bills.
"If you’re not connected, none of those opportunities are available to you," Thomas said.
The superintendent anticipates overlap between school board members and the commissioners in the agenda things each rank for the joint meeting. Barry said the crucial side to increasing on-line access is that it has mostly evolved into a vital want for everybody within the same vein as reliable roads or utilities. He said that want can solely still grow."It’s infrastructure in the same way that it’s a tool," Barry said. "It’s just that it’s electronic infrastructure or digital infrastructure rather than a physical infrastructure."
At the commissioners' agenda review meeting Feb. 2, County Commissioner Steven Barry announced his intent for the 2 entities to confer next month on a way to increase the region's awareness of Connect2Compete, a program where qualified candidates receive net service for less than $10 a month. Barry said though a portion of residents in Escambia County already cash in of the program, the county could devote public assets to facilitate increase awareness of it therefore a lot of United Nations agency qualify would apprehend to use.
By broadening the scope of those with convenient online access, it helps level the playing field for all students and families regardless of financial gain, he explained."If you can’t get on the internet from home, it greatly impedes your ability to be ultra-competitive and successful," he said.
Barry's tentative plan calls for the county investing its Community and Media Relations workplace to disperse data on the program. Officials would additionally conduct community workshops to assist those curious about applying. Representatives from Cox Communications, the county's primary internet service supplier, would attend. The provider is a leading partner within the region in providing the program, but the program's creator, nonprofit EveryoneOn in Washington D.C., lists other partners on its website such as Mediacom and Bright House Networks.
"Cox would actually bring a laptop and whatever paperwork is necessary to complete for those enrolling, and we could serve a household in 10-15 minutes," Barry said. "The community center is a natural place to hold those types of workshops."
Families who qualify include those with a child in elementary, middle or high school eligible or enrolled in the National School Lunch Program, a federal program that provides low-cost or free lunches to students. Those who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, colloquially known as food stamps, are eligible. Cox Communications also extends the program to students with family members who participate in low-income housing programs.
Cameron Johnson, public affairs manager for Cox Southeast Region, said the provider charges $9.95 a month plus taxes for those in Connect2Compete. The company provides the service at 10 megabytes per second, a speed fast enough to send email and share photographs. Users can also stream and download video at that speed, albeit not always in excellent quality.As part of the program, the company added in-home WiFi access last year — a feature that greatly assists students from the school district.
Malcolm Thomas, Escambia County School District superintendent, said starting in August, the school district will equip all students from third grade to high school seniors with a Google Chromebook laptop to take home. The school district already allows middle and high school students to carry the devices off of their campuses, but the elementary students currently must store them in their classrooms.
As an added benefit to the laptops, Thomas said the school district does not restrict their use to the students. Everyone in the households can take advantage of them, which for the adults could translate to applying for jobs over the internet, taking online courses or more convenience in paying bills.
"If you’re not connected, none of those opportunities are available to you," Thomas said.
The superintendent anticipates overlap between school board members and the commissioners in the agenda things each rank for the joint meeting. Barry said the crucial side to increasing on-line access is that it has mostly evolved into a vital want for everybody within the same vein as reliable roads or utilities. He said that want can solely still grow."It’s infrastructure in the same way that it’s a tool," Barry said. "It’s just that it’s electronic infrastructure or digital infrastructure rather than a physical infrastructure."