{"id":5632,"date":"2023-09-26T21:21:58","date_gmt":"2023-09-26T21:21:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/?page_id=5632"},"modified":"2023-10-12T17:50:36","modified_gmt":"2023-10-12T17:50:36","slug":"explore","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/explore\/","title":{"rendered":"Explore"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"5632\" class=\"elementor elementor-5632\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1c01e82 ot-traditional elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1c01e82\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-72e28d8 ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"72e28d8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5353a1d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5353a1d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.10.2 - 29-01-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/New-Project-2023-08-25T194509.099.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5489\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/New-Project-2023-08-25T194509.099.jpg 600w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/New-Project-2023-08-25T194509.099-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/New-Project-2023-08-25T194509.099-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-527a5bb ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"527a5bb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b3aae1b elementor-widget elementor-widget-iheading\" data-id=\"b3aae1b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iheading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ot-heading\">\r\n\t        \t            <span> South Central Alabama Broadband Cooperative District<\/span>\r\n\t        <h2 class=\"main-heading\">Why Rural Broadband Is Important<\/h2>\t    <\/div>\r\n\t    \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e3994ff elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e3994ff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.10.2 - 29-01-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#818a91;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#818a91;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>Rural broadband is essential to modern agriculture, the farmers and ranchers who grow our food and the quality of life for rural Americans. Farm Bureau supports using the Universal Service Fund to expand broadband deployment to rural areas. We also support using a combination of tax incentives, grants and\/or regulation to increase the use of broadband access in rural areas.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e325ad6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-iheading\" data-id=\"e325ad6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iheading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ot-heading\">\r\n\t        \t            <span>Impact<\/span>\r\n\t        <h2 class=\"main-heading\">Precision Agriculture<\/h2>\t    <\/div>\r\n\t    \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d2ae76 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6d2ae76\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Farmers and ranchers depend on broadband just as they do highways, railways, and waterways to ship food, fuel, and fiber across the country and around the world. Many of the latest yield maximizing farming techniques require broadband connections for data collection and analysis performed both on the farm and in remote data centers.\u00a0<strong>However, 18 percent of U.S. farms have no access to the Internet according to the USDA report, \u201cFarm Computer Usage and Ownership, 2021.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-87b9824 ot-traditional elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"87b9824\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-bd97f60 ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"bd97f60\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4bb6615 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4bb6615\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>America\u2019s farmers and ranchers embrace technology that allows their farming businesses to be more efficient, economical, and environmentally friendly. Today\u2019s farmers and ranchers are using precision agricultural techniques to make decisions that impact the amount of fertilizer a farmer needs to purchase and apply to the field, the amount of water needed to sustain the crop, and the amount and type of herbicides or pesticides the farmer may need to apply. These are only a few examples of the ways farmers use broadband connectivity to achieve optimal yield, lower environmental impact and maximize profits.<\/p><p>Farmers and ranchers rely on broadband access to manage and operate successful businesses, the same as small businesses do in urban and suburban America. Access to broadband is essential for farmers and ranchers to follow commodity markets, communicate with their customers, gain access to new markets around the world and, increasingly, for regulatory compliance.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5721ec2 ot-traditional elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5721ec2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0c9889a ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"0c9889a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8713afb elementor-widget elementor-widget-iheading\" data-id=\"8713afb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iheading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ot-heading\">\r\n\t        <h2 class=\"main-heading\">Quality of Life<\/h2>\t    <\/div>\r\n\t    \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-214c435 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"214c435\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Rural communities need access to health care, government services, and educational and business opportunities. For many rural communities, access can only be gained by using broadband services and sophisticated technologies that require high-speed connections.\u00a0<strong>According to the Federal Communications Commission, 17 percent of rural Americans lack access to 25 Mbps\/3 Mbps service, compared to only 1 percent of urban Americans.<\/strong>\u00a0Current and future generations of rural Americans will be left behind their fellow citizens if they are without affordable high-speed broadband service that enables them to tap into health care and educational services, government agencies, and new business opportunities.<\/p><p>Broadband allows people more affordable and efficient access to basic amenities such as education, health care, public safety, and government services by:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-bb45823 ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"bb45823\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8604f03 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8604f03\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5316\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2.jpg 600w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a539040 ot-traditional elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a539040\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cc9f86e ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"cc9f86e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a251873 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a251873\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u00a0<\/p><ul><li>Affording people opportunities\u00a0to participate in online learning and distance education<\/li><li>Giving entrepreneurs and small- and home-based business owners opportunities\u00a0to compete with large corporations<\/li><li>Increasing the productivity and efficiency of businesses that use the internet for their operations<\/li><li>Connecting patients in remote areas to health care services<\/li><li>Making government services more readily available to residents<\/li><li>Saving companies and organizations money by letting employees telework<\/li><li>Allowing friends and families to stay in touch with one another<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0d6157d ot-traditional elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0d6157d\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f1ff868 ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"f1ff868\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1dd80fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1dd80fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/New-Project-2023-08-25T194645.098.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5491\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/New-Project-2023-08-25T194645.098.jpg 600w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/New-Project-2023-08-25T194645.098-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/New-Project-2023-08-25T194645.098-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-23e6d79 ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"23e6d79\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f84695 elementor-widget elementor-widget-iheading\" data-id=\"5f84695\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iheading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ot-heading\">\r\n\t        <h2 class=\"main-heading\">Why Speed Matters<\/h2>\t    <\/div>\r\n\t    \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1bfc43 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a1bfc43\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Broadband speed is important because it allows for faster transmission (uploading and downloading) of data. As data is transmitted digitally, text, images and sound are all translated into \u201cbits\u201d of data.<\/p><p>The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) defines basic broadband as transmission speeds of at least 25 Mbps (megabits per second) \u2013 or 25 million bits per second \u2013 downstream (from the internet to the user\u2019s computer) and 3 Mbps upstream (from the user\u2019s computer to the internet).<\/p><p>In January 2015, the FCC increased the recommended availability target speed threshold to 25 Mbps (download)\/3Mbps (upload) from 4 Mbps (download)\/1 Mbps (upload). Slower services, such as dial-up, run at 56 Kbps and cannot transmit data as quickly.<\/p><p>Broadband is accessed through various high-speed transmission technologies that allow these bits to move faster.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7b941cd ot-traditional elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7b941cd\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5c8c003 ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"5c8c003\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-23172a0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"23172a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Benefits of Rural Broadband<\/strong><\/p><p>As the technology supporting broadband connectivity continues to grow, so do the benefits of getting connected. Here are some examples of how broadband connectivity can benefit your home or business.<\/p><p><strong>Economic Development<\/strong><\/p><p>Broadband enables local communities, regions, and nations to develop, attract, retain, and expand job-creating businesses and institutions. It also improves the productivity and profitability of large, small, and home-based businesses and allows them to compete in local, national, and global markets.<\/p><p><strong>Government Services<\/strong><\/p><p>Broadband helps government agencies improve\u00a0quality, lower\u00a0costs, and increase transparency by improving internal operations and making it easier for residents to interact with them online.<\/p><p><strong>Education<\/strong><\/p><p>Broadband networks enhance educational experiences by providing students and teachers with access to an array of resources, including text-based materials, photos, videos, music, animations, interactive lessons, and oral history collections. Broadband\u00a0also opens classroom walls, allowing students to participate in distance learning opportunities at any time from any location they can access the internet, such as libraries, school, and\u00a0home.<\/p><p><strong>Health Care<\/strong><\/p><p>Broadband makes remote access to clinical services possible for patients and provides significantly improved, cost-effective access to quality health care. It also allows physicians to monitor their patients through innovative home health devices, avoiding\u00a0expensive house calls and giving\u00a0patients real-time feedback.<\/p><p><strong>Public Safety<\/strong><\/p><p>Broadband, particularly wireless broadband, is becoming increasingly indispensable to the interoperability of police, fire, health, and other government entities that protect the public in both day-to-day and crisis situations. This involves rapid disaster response systems, effective early warning and public alert systems, disaster preparation programs, remote security monitoring and backup systems for public safety communications networks.<\/p><p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Environmental Sustainability<\/strong><\/p><p>Broadband enables buildings to communicate with utilities and utilities to communicate with each other and the energy market, providing real-time information to both buildings and homes. These\u00a0include\u00a0smart buildings and smart grids, which hold great promise for dramatic reductions and greater efficiencies in energy consumption.<\/p><p><strong>Telework<\/strong><\/p><p>Broadband allows teleworkers opportunities to more readily live and work in locations of their own choosing, without having to be within commuting distance of a corporate center or another base location. Studies show that commuters drive 53% to 77% on days they telecommute than on days when they drive into work. Also, a three-day-a-week telecommuter can save an average of $5,878 per year in commuting costs and avoid putting 9,060 pounds of pollutants into the environment.<\/p><p><strong>People with Disabilities<\/strong><\/p><p>Broadband is a valuable tool to address\u00a0the needs of people with disabilities. Through various broadband-based applications and supporting technologies, those who are deaf or hearing impaired can use webcams to communicate with one another through sign language. People who are blind or visually impaired can use screen reader\u00a0programs that audibly describe website material to users. Software programs now exist to interpret screen content into Braille. Broadband also permits users of telecommunications relay services to use video relay services to communicate more readily with voice telephone users.<\/p><p><strong>Entertainment<\/strong><\/p><p>Broadband is essential to enjoy 21st-century entertainment. Streaming video, online gaming and connecting with friends and relatives via social media\u00a0are only possible because of broadband. <strong>N<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Rural Older Adults <\/strong><\/p><p>Older adults also use technology to remain in their homes longer; however, two in five don\u2019t think technology is designed with them in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aarp.org\/research\/topics\/technology\/info-2022\/2022-technology-trends-older-americans.html\">mind<\/a>. Citing everything from poor user experience to insufficient training materials to complexity of offerings, older adults want to embrace technology, but feel left out of our collective progress.<\/p><p><strong><em>\u2018OUR ORGANIZATIONS AND OUR MANY ALLIES ARE PURSUING MULTIPLE PATHS TO ADVANCE AGE-INCLUSIVE INNOVATION POLICY.\u2019<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-84a7534 ot-traditional elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"84a7534\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-93f8366 ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"93f8366\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-70bed2c elementor-widget elementor-widget-iheading\" data-id=\"70bed2c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iheading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ot-heading\">\r\n\t        <h2 class=\"main-heading\">What Is the Digital Divide?<\/h2>\t    <\/div>\r\n\t    \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7815473 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7815473\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Nearly every aspect of today\u2019s society interacts with the internet in some capacity. From everyday appliances \u2013 like lights and refrigerators \u2013 to complex health care systems and records, most Alabamians encounter the internet daily.<\/p><p>As opportunities created by the internet increase, so do inequities for those who do not have access to the technologies, tools and skills needed to participate in the increasingly digital world.<\/p><p>The digital divide is the gap between those who have access to technology, the internet and digital literacy training and those who do not. It affects all generations \u2013 both rural and urban communities \u2013 and a wide variety of industries and sectors.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d7917bb ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"d7917bb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f5023e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5f5023e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5316\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2.jpg 600w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fe682ef ot-traditional elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fe682ef\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a911978 ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"a911978\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-62a0746 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"62a0746\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5316\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2.jpg 600w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b0e108f ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"b0e108f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d996dc4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-iheading\" data-id=\"d996dc4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iheading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ot-heading\">\r\n\t        <h2 class=\"main-heading\">Affordable Service<\/h2>\t    <\/div>\r\n\t    \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f49d4cc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f49d4cc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In some areas, the availability of and the understanding of the value high-speed broadband brings is not the challenge. Instead, for some, the challenge is finding affordable service.\u00a0<\/p><p>According to a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/broadbandnow.com\/research\/q2-broadband-report-2019\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2019 State of Broadband In America report<\/a>\u00a0by Broadband Now, 42.4% of Alabama have access to 25 megabytes per second (Mbps) download speed and 3 Mbps upload speed at $60 or less per month. The inability to afford internet service is one of the most common and pervasive barriers to broadband adoption.\u00a0<\/p><p>However, a\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/agecon.okstate.edu\/hotspot\/files\/OK%20Rural%20Library%20Phase%20IIA%20Patron%20Survey%20Results%206-30-19.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2019 Oklahoma State University study<\/a>\u00a0found that only 20% of respondents said they were likely to purchase internet if it were $50 or more per month, while 74% indicated they would purchase it if it were $10 per month.\u00a0<\/p><p>While affordability remains the most common barrier, many areas have discount offer programs to offer discounted or low-cost internet plans for qualifying low-income households*. They just are not well advertised or not advertised at all. As such, these programs are not widely used, leading internet service providers to be less likely to expand these programs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-97793f6 ot-traditional elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"97793f6\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4e92fc4 ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"4e92fc4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f8c7eb elementor-widget elementor-widget-iheading\" data-id=\"3f8c7eb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iheading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ot-heading\">\r\n\t        <h2 class=\"main-heading\">Low-Cost Offer<\/h2>\t    <\/div>\r\n\t    \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b471a38 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b471a38\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/acpbenefit.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Affordable Connectivity Program<\/a>\u00a0gives qualified low-income households a discount of $30 a month on internet services or up to $75 a month for broadband service on tribal lands. Qualified households may also receive $100 to buy a laptop, desktop, or tablet through their internet provider (with a co-payment of more than $10 but less than $50).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-81ca0a5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-iheading\" data-id=\"81ca0a5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iheading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ot-heading\">\r\n\t        <h2 class=\"main-heading\">Digital Literacy<\/h2>\t    <\/div>\r\n\t    \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bc5e0f8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bc5e0f8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Imagine you are sitting in front of a desktop computer, having never seen one before, with the goal of emailing your doctor to schedule an appointment using your new patient portal.\u00a0You would not know the intricacies of signing up for an email address so your physician could establish an account for you, much less be able to access it.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0b52bc3 ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"0b52bc3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67a091f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"67a091f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5316\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2.jpg 600w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-cd6051d ot-traditional elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cd6051d\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-620886e ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"620886e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cce0da7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cce0da7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>However, if you had access to the technology and understood how to use it, you are increasing your digital literacy.<\/p><p>Digital literacy is the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills.\u00a0<\/p><p>As people begin to develop these skills, technology can add more value to their life, which begins to increase their perceived value of the importance of a computer, other digital devices, or the internet.\u00a0<\/p><p>There are five key characteristics of a digitally literate person. The digitally literate person:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><ul><li>Possesses the variety of skills \u2013 technical and cognitive \u2013 required to find, understand, evaluate, create, and communicate digital information in a wide variety of formats<\/li><li>Can use diverse technologies appropriately and effectively to retrieve information, interpret results, and judge the quality of that information<\/li><li>Understands the relationship between technology, life-long learning, personal privacy, and stewardship of information<\/li><li>Uses these skills and the appropriate technology to communicate and collaborate with peers, colleagues, family, and on occasion, the general public<\/li><li>Uses these skills to actively participate in civic society and contribute to a vibrant, informed, and engaged community<\/li><\/ul><p>Recent research shows that digital and computer skills training increases new internet subscribers&#8217; desire to use the internet for ongoing learning, increasing their job skills and searching for jobs.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9d3a5a3 ot-traditional elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9d3a5a3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-484cdb7 ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"484cdb7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1860361 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1860361\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5316\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2.jpg 600w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ec49356 ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"ec49356\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ad8f2db elementor-widget elementor-widget-iheading\" data-id=\"ad8f2db\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iheading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ot-heading\">\r\n\t        <h2 class=\"main-heading\">Homework Gap<\/h2>\t    <\/div>\r\n\t    \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c589e3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5c589e3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The homework gap is the gulf that exists between students and families that have access to computers and the internet and those who don\u2019t. It is part of the digital divide and can affect a student\u2019s ability to:<\/p><ul><li>Complete homework<\/li><li>Be academically successful<\/li><li>Build the foundation for a successful career<\/li><li>Take advantage of economic opportunities<\/li><\/ul><p>Nationally, according to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/fact-tank\/2018\/10\/26\/nearly-one-in-five-teens-cant-always-finish-their-homework-because-of-the-digital-divide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pew Research Center,<\/a>\u00a0the gap looks like this:<\/p><ul><li>15% of households with school-aged children do not have high-speed internet access at home.<\/li><li>17% of teens say they have trouble completing their homework because of lack of internet access.<\/li><li>The numbers are even higher when it comes to minorities and low-income families.<\/li><li>One in every four low-income teens do not have access to a laptop or desktop computer at home.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9e5e845 ot-traditional elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9e5e845\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f8781bd ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"f8781bd\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a793cf elementor-widget elementor-widget-iheading\" data-id=\"1a793cf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iheading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ot-heading\">\r\n\t        <h2 class=\"main-heading\">The Homework Gap in Alabama Black Belt<\/h2>\t    <\/div>\r\n\t    \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6919331 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6919331\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Researchers estimate that as many as half a million Alabama students do not have the access they need to high-speed internet.<br \/>Closing the homework gap in Alabama is one of our major goals.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-484a347 elementor-widget elementor-widget-iheading\" data-id=\"484a347\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iheading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ot-heading\">\r\n\t        <h2 class=\"main-heading\">Telehealth<\/h2>\t    <\/div>\r\n\t    \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74da80a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"74da80a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Health care services\u00a0are becoming increasingly digitized, and many services are already delivered online.\u00a0As that trend increases, health care could become more efficient, less expensive and more effective.<\/p><p>If digital equity is not achieved, those positive outcomes will not occur, thus negatively impacting the economic and physical health of communities who lack access to digital technologies.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d79e0dd ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"d79e0dd\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4cff97d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4cff97d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5316\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2.jpg 600w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ea3c11f ot-traditional elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ea3c11f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8e18979 ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"8e18979\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f073192 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f073192\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5316\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2.jpg 600w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c922756 ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"c922756\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4958a0e elementor-widget elementor-widget-iheading\" data-id=\"4958a0e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iheading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ot-heading\">\r\n\t        <h2 class=\"main-heading\">Who Is Affected by the Digital Divide?<\/h2>\t    <\/div>\r\n\t    \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18fdfd3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"18fdfd3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The digital divide is the gap between those who have access to technology, the internet and digital literacy training and those who do not. It affects all generations\u00a0\u2013\u00a0both rural and urban communities\u00a0\u2013\u00a0as well as a wide variety of industries and sectors. Here&#8217;s a look at some of the groups of people affected by the digital divide.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e54eb36 elementor-widget elementor-widget-iheading\" data-id=\"e54eb36\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iheading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ot-heading\">\r\n\t        <h2 class=\"main-heading\">School Children<\/h2>\t    <\/div>\r\n\t    \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eb1c262 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"eb1c262\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>School-age children are affected by the digital divide through the Homework Gap \u2013 the gap that occurs when they are assigned homework requiring internet access but don\u2019t have home access.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7ef592e ot-traditional elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7ef592e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a877120 ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"a877120\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c08f9d elementor-widget elementor-widget-iheading\" data-id=\"3c08f9d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iheading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ot-heading\">\r\n\t        <h2 class=\"main-heading\">Workforce & Employers<\/h2>\t    <\/div>\r\n\t    \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e8df78f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e8df78f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The rapid pace at which technology and required technology skills are advancing in the workplace is leaving behind workers without digital skills, access to the internet and computing devices. It\u2019s also having an impact on businesses efficiency and competitiveness.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f4bc504 elementor-widget elementor-widget-iheading\" data-id=\"f4bc504\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iheading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ot-heading\">\r\n\t        <h2 class=\"main-heading\">Health Care Patients<\/h2>\t    <\/div>\r\n\t    \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f6fce3d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f6fce3d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>With the rise of telehealth services as viable options for contacting health care providers, people without access to broadband and computing devices will lack access to these additional tools.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9445cb5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-iheading\" data-id=\"9445cb5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iheading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ot-heading\">\r\n\t        <h2 class=\"main-heading\">Residents<\/h2>\t    <\/div>\r\n\t    \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2095fea elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2095fea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Governments are increasingly offering services online, and those without access to broadband and computing devices cannot access those services or participate in community activities that require access.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0525ef6 ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"0525ef6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-68d85a9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"68d85a9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5316\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2.jpg 600w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b5ce19b ot-traditional elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b5ce19b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-66546be ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"66546be\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-187fb79 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"187fb79\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5316\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2.jpg 600w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-947403d ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"947403d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a2b9265 elementor-widget elementor-widget-iheading\" data-id=\"a2b9265\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iheading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ot-heading\">\r\n\t        <h2 class=\"main-heading\">Closing the Digital Divide<\/h2>\t    <\/div>\r\n\t    \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-89fc5f7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"89fc5f7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The digital divide is a significant challenge, but solutions exist. The digital divide can be closed by implementing digital inclusion policies, programs and tools that incorporate the following:<\/p><ul><li>Affordable, robust broadband internet service<\/li><li>Internet-enabled devices that meet the needs of the user<\/li><li>Access to digital literacy training<\/li><li>Quality technical support<\/li><li>Applications and online content designed to enable and encourage self-sufficiency, participation, and collaboration<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3630bed ot-traditional elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3630bed\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9c88ab6 ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"9c88ab6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9efe9a6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-iheading\" data-id=\"9efe9a6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iheading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ot-heading\">\r\n\t        <h2 class=\"main-heading\">Digital Equity<\/h2>\t    <\/div>\r\n\t    \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-136ee42 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"136ee42\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Division of Broadband and Digital Equity is working to achieve digital equity throughout Rural Alabama to fully close the digital divide.<\/p><p>Digital equity is a condition in which all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in society, democracy, and economy. Digital equity is necessary for civic and cultural participation, employment, lifelong learning, and access to essential services.\u00a0To achieve digital equity means that every North Carolinian would have the technologies, tools and skills needed to access affordable high-speed internet anywhere, anytime.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0b9c8b0 ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"0b9c8b0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-64b8c0f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"64b8c0f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5316\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2.jpg 600w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c74a33c ot-traditional elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c74a33c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d7a7cae ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"d7a7cae\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f4c6c1c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f4c6c1c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5316\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2.jpg 600w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-654cd08 ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"654cd08\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18859f1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-iheading\" data-id=\"18859f1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iheading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ot-heading\">\r\n\t        <h2 class=\"main-heading\">Digital Inclusion<\/h2>\t    <\/div>\r\n\t    \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fef1910 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fef1910\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>To achieve digital equity requires the design, implementation, and support of digital inclusion programs.<\/p><p>Digital inclusion is a term that refers to the activities necessary to ensure that all individuals and communities, including the most disadvantaged, have access to and use of information and communication technologies. Because of the evolutionary nature of technology, digital inclusion strategies must evolve as technologies develop and change.<\/p><p>While making sure that everyone has access to technology, the internet, and digital literacy training is a critical component, the use of these tools is essential in closing the digital divide. This component is commonly called \u201cadoption.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2c18338 ot-traditional elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2c18338\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-964c86f ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"964c86f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0325990 elementor-widget elementor-widget-iheading\" data-id=\"0325990\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iheading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ot-heading\">\r\n\t        <h2 class=\"main-heading\">Broadband Adoption<\/h2>\t    <\/div>\r\n\t    \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f36ddd0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f36ddd0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Broadband adoption is when a household subscribes to an internet service in their home. There are many reasons for not subscribing at home, but there are four key barriers to adoption:<\/p><ul><li>The cost associated with the subscription to broadband service<\/li><li>The cost of a device to use the broadband service<\/li><li>A person\u2019s lack of existing digital literacy skills, like how to use the internet or device<\/li><li>The perceived lack of relevance or benefit to the person\u2019s life<\/li><\/ul><p>While the issues surrounding availability to reliable, high-speed internet is often the topic of discussions around broadband, adoption remains a substantial issue.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fd7771d ot-column-items-center ot-flex-column-vertical\" data-id=\"fd7771d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b7d8797 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b7d8797\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5316\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2.jpg 600w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>South Central Alabama Broadband Cooperative District Why Rural Broadband Is Important Rural broadband is essential to modern agriculture, the farmers and ranchers who grow our food and the quality of life for rural Americans. Farm Bureau supports using the Universal Service Fund to expand broadband deployment to rural areas. We also support using a combination [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-5632","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5632","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5632"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5632\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5700,"href":"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5632\/revisions\/5700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/testv45.demowebsitelinks.com\/SCABC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5632"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}