Survey looks to identify broadband needs

High-speed internet access could get a boost in Ellis County, but first a national nonprofit organization wants to know more about usage and dead zones.

Connected Nation, a third-party 501(c)3 that works with broadband providers to help communities, states and federal agencies create solutions to bridge the digital gap, is working to develop a broadband technology action plan to improve quality of life for communities across the country.

As part of the Connected Community program, Connected Nation has launched a survey to gather information about internet connectivity in homes, businesses, schools, etc. The survey will assess the current status of broadband access, adoption and usage in the area. Entities across the country are encouraged to participate in the survey, and Ellis County jurisdictions have been quick to respond.

“When we received a call that there was an opportunity here, we jumped on it and started coordinating,” said Albert Lawrence, deputy city manager for the city of Waxahachie. “We’re not just looking to help Waxahachie but all of Ellis County.”

Warren Ketteman, director of economic development for the city of Waxahachie, has helped lead the effort locally to promote the survey. A lot could be riding on it, he said.

Future funding The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is poised to provide $65 billion to improve infrastructure across the country.

Of that $65 billion, approximately $42.5 billion is expected to be sent to states as part of the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program to help bridge the digital gap.

Sierra Sees, broadband solutions manager for Connected Nation Texas, said Texas could receive between $1 billion and $4 billion of that money.

Ketteman said Ellis County wants to be ready.

“Our hope is that when we do the survey and find the gaps, we’ll have a roadmap for when the money comes down,” Ketteman said. “We can put our hands up and say that we did the work and know where the gaps are. And hopefully we can get money to expand broadband in Ellis County.”

Surveying the needs Sees said when the process first started earlier this year Connected Nation representatives met with key stakeholders in the Ellis County area. She said a common issue they brought up was internet affordability.

“While people may have access to broadband, affordability may be a big hindrance,” Sees said.

Sees said once the survey is complete Connected Nation will create a technology plan that will be unique for the community based on what the data indicates.

For example, she said if it turns out affordability is an issue in Ellis County, examining the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and how many people actually know about it, would be part of the plan. Through the ACP qualifying households can receive a discount of up to $30 per month on their internet service. “How can libraries, churches and the government do a better job of promoting it,” Sees said. “It’s a great program that would help bridge the gap.”

The survey is available to several different users – residents, businesses, public safety, schools, etc. If someone belongs to more than one category they can take multiple surveys.

Depending on the role of the survey taker the questions may be different. The survey asks the respondent for information such as their internet provider, how the internet is accessed, satisfaction with internet speed, use of a mobile hotspot, reasons for going online, etc.

Sees said once the survey is complete an interactive map on broadband connectivity in the area will be available in the organization’s public online portal.

Community effort Ketteman said the city is being proactive in getting residents to respond to the survey, and so far many have. He said the city has also reached out to nonprofits and the agriculture community to encourage them to participate.

“The farmers and the ranchers, we need to find out what difficulties they may have,” Ketteman said.

The city also asked Waxahachie ISD to participate, and WISD has helped spread the word on social media.

“One thing we saw during COVID was the importance that students have access to the internet from home,” said Jenny Bridges, director of public relations for Waxahachie ISD. “We hope that we never have anything like that again, but as schools become more device-based our students have to have internet access to complete homework and school assignments and study for tests.”

Not only that but Ketteman said the city has encouraged mayors, city managers and economic development teams in other cities within Ellis County to participate, as well as Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Waxahachie.

“If people have a need for telemedicine it’s critical to have internet access,” Ketteman said.

The need for the ‘net Sees said it’s unclear when the BEAD program money will be available, though she expects it would be in late 2023 or 2024.

When that day comes Lawrence said Waxahachie and the region will be ready since there has been a push to get the surveys filled out.

“By doing this it will get Ellis County and Texas on the radar,” Lawrence said. “So when Texas gets the money we’ll have a leg up because we did the work.”

Lawrence said overall Waxahachie is in a good position in terms of connectivity.

“There are only a few small patches where connectivity or slow speeds is an issue,” Lawrence said. “But in today’s times we need high speed everywhere.”

He said a growing population is a big driver in that.

“We’re growing by leaps and bounds,” Lawrence said. “There is a large number of people who do work from home so that they don’t have to drive to Dallas. We need to make sure that any of those gaps where internet connection is slower we get up to high speed so more people have the ability to work from home or go to school from home.”

Ketteman said not surprisingly the best connection in Waxahachie is near the major corridors.

“Once you get away from that then it becomes a dollars and cents issue,” Ketteman said. “Running fiber optics cable isn’t cheap. So hopefully with the money we can extend it out where it’s more sparsely populated.”

To take the survey go to connectednation.org/ ellis-county-texas. The deadline is Nov. 10.