Technology

By Jim Meadows/Illinois Public Media -- People who live in a city may take broadband Internet service for granted. But in many rural areas, broadband service is hard or even impossible to obtain.

The issue of broadband access was the spotlight of a recent congressional field hearing in Springfield. (Listen to the audio story here) 

By Sean Powers/Illinois Public Media/ Comcast has unveiled a program, known as “Internet Essentials”, to expand Internet access for about $10 a month to low-income families.

The cable and Internet provider wants to make the program available next month in 39 states, including Illinois, where the company’s Internet service is offered. Comcast spokesman Jack Segal said eligible families must have at least one child receiving free school lunches through the National School Lunch Program. He estimates that lunch program is open to more than 4,500 students in Champaign and Urbana.

CU-CitizenAccess was at eBlack Champaign-Urbana's Campus-Community Symposium this weekend to cover the discussion between groups and organizations on how to better connect the community and technology.

This two-day symposium aimed to take a step toward bridging the digital divide between underserved residents and available technological resources.
As the Big Broadband project nears construction, groups and organizations are looking at ways to use the super-fast network to benefit those residents who are in the most need of training, employment, education and digital literacy.

Discussion panels ranged from community engagement, social services and technology, education, youth and technology, religious groups and technology and media and technology.

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By Joel Steinfeldt — This summer, Tanya Weatherly will again decide between having Internet access at home and paying her other utility bills.

By Steve Bauer— Brian Bell is finding new homes for computers through a program at Parkland Community College.

The entry-level class for computer maintenance is also helping some people to bridge what is called the “digital divide.”

CHAMPAIGN -- Local broadband officials are hoping two federal grants to support the Big Broadband project will be redeemed in a second round of funding after they were denied in the first.

But without those two support grants, some officials say the high-speed Internet infrastructure, already being questioned by some elected representatives, could be less effective than they originally planned.

A consortium composed of the cities of Urbana and Champaign and the University of Illinois submitted in August three related proposals to the federal government applying for stimulus funding to improve broadband Internet access in the area.

But why does Urbana-Champaign need “big broadband” Internet service in the first place? How will the proposed network connect homes and community institutions? How will this network be paid for and governed? How does the technology work and what does this all mean?