(9/2021) On January 1, 1983 the internet was born. The first smart phone came out in 1998. Remember when we all thought that everything computerized would crash at the year 2000? Seems like a long long long time ago. Look at us now. Much of our lives are dependent on the internet. In less than 40 years (fewer for most of us) the internet went from a fringe geeky concept to one of the most significant indicators of a community’s success . Most of us, myself included, barely understand how this digital world was created, who builds and owns the infrastructure, and most frustrating how do we get more.

Prior to the pandemic it was already clear that portions of Adams County had inadequate broadband infrastructure. After the various at home schooling and work experiences of 2020 it is clear that the general public is now aware that inadequate broadband infrastructure is a big deal. The internet is no longer just for the geeks and more importantly affordable high-speed internet in no longer a luxury.

Affordable high-speed internet is vital for students learning remotely, employees working from home, making medical appointments or scheduling your covid-19 vaccine, and other vital business transactions. While everything I just listed can be dealt with without high-speed internet, inadequate internet access is holding us back. If this continues, Adams County could see lasting impacts on our local economy and quality of life. Hopefully, we are at a turning point and with the proper investment of federal, state, and local resources we can change Adams County to a regional leader in broadband connectivity.

In 2012 Adams County created a broadband task force, also known as Adams County Connected, with the goal of providing definition to the problem. After a few years of the board banging our heads up against a lack of engagement from existing telecommunication companies and the general public, the task force faltered. The board at that time was populated with mostly tech savvy leaders of education and local industries, who were well versed in analyzing and defining the challenges, but we lacked the public buy-in and public funds to do much. Post-COVID-19, this landscape changed. The public and telecommunication companies are much more engaged.

Today, with the exception of lingering emails about election fraud from far-right radicals, the most common communication I receive is that we need to work on broadband. Beyond the public reaching out, I receive weekly articles about funding opportunities and have heard from no less than five new companies looking to expand broadband services into Adams County. That is five more companies than we had in 2012 and millions of dollars more in funding opportunities. The public outcry is clearly a result of the pandemic. The private sector response is clearly a result of new government investment in broadband.

Earlier this year the federal government approved the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), better known as the Covid-19 Stimulus Package or the American Rescue Plan. Funds from this huge investment legislation can be used for four general categories of expenses. Fund can be used to address water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, to address lost revenue to state, county, and local governments, to pay for the negative economic impacts of COVID-19, and to pay premium pay for essential workers during the pandemic. As it stands today, Adams County will receive almost $20,000,000 in ARPA funds.

Similarly, every municipal government will receive ARPA funds, albeit a much smaller portion than the county for these same categories. Each government unit has until 2024 to have determined projects for these funds and until 2026 to spend these funds. While that may seem like a long time, we are still waiting for final guidance from the federal government before we even begin to prioritize potential projects. While each of these categories are laudable uses of funds, our community must take a hard look at using these funds for broadband improvements.

Broadband is the great equalizer of the 20th century. The problem is that it is expensive. When it can cost $30,000 a mile to run fiber optical cables, it is no surprise that telecommunication companies are very frugal in rural areas. So, why are companies constantly contacting us about new projects in Adams County? Apparently, they got the memo about the ARPA funds and are eager to get in on the action. And I agree. While many of the uses are important, many of them are retrospective.

Expanding broadband is an investment into our future. It can help to usher in a new economic growth for our communities. Not only would this help existing businesses, but it could be used to attract new industry compatible businesses. Residents with skills equal to their urban counterparts could telecommute much of the week from home for more money than they currently earn. Service sector and manufacturing industries could relocate to Adams County. These investments in turn will improve our tax base, which has remained flat for years. I know I am oversimplifying this, but you get the drift. Without a modern infrastructure, our employers, our schools, and our service providers will fall behind.

So, where do we go from here. These are the steps as I see it. We need to re-boot the county broadband task force with residents from various sectors to share insights from every corner of the county. We need to use ARPA funds to conduct a needs assessment study, preferably with the buy in from neighboring counties and local municipalities. Once we have the outline of the problem, then we reach out and get the private sector to invest in our communities. Like I said before at $30,000 a mile, all of the ARPA funds in the county will not be enough, so we need to work smart and we need to work together.

If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering in this effort, let me know. If you have any questions about broadband or ARPA funds, or if you want to suggest other projects, just let me know. mqually@adamscounty.us