Broadband Accessibility: No Longer a Luxury

Let’s think about how our lives have been powerfully changed with the coming of internet technology. At the touch of our fingers, we have access to information, communication, and entertainment without stepping one foot out the door. Many people. young and old. are working and studying remotely. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the necessity of this service and revealed the barrier to reaching our potential which is created by the lack of broadband access for those of us living in rural areas.

Why must we continue to work for broadband access for all in rural America especially for our young people?

• Young people will choose to live and raise their families in the country if they have the same high speed internet as their city friends. Currently, my family has 15 MB download and .5-1 MB upload.

This is not close to the definition of high speed internet which is 25 MB download. • Businesses will choose to locate in the country if they have access to high speed internet. This includes not just agriculturally-based businesses but also businesses that are not dependent on location. During the pandemic it was easy for many people to work remotely from home if they had access to adequate internet service even though they were physically miles from their place of employment. • Challenges to providing educational opportunities for all of our Wisconsin students in the form of remote learning have been exacerbated by the lack of broadband internet access for all.

Two ways to address the elevated internet access crisis brought about by the pandemic

• Relief - Any national or worldwide disaster needs an immediate response. Educators rose in response to the urgency of providing education to students remotely in March 2020 when schools closed their doors for public safety. Many Chromebooks were distributed, and hot spots were provided to students in coordination with the support of internet providers. • Development - Eight months later, we continue to problem solve our way to providing educational services remotely. We do not know exactly how the experience of remote instruction will impact change for education post pandemic. However, we know there will be change, and the need for a long term

solution to making broadband service available for all students is evident.

What lessons can we learn from the Rural Electrification Act (REA) of 1936 to guide us in advocating for equitable broadband access?

• There were many players in making the REA a reality in rural America. Farmers, cooperative members, Farm Bureau members, county/state extension staff, university staff, and legislators all needed to be in communication and on the same page in order to coordinate the effort to bring electricity to the country.

What can educators do to make broadband accessibility a possibility for all?

• Work for broadband access for all by contacting many of these same players. In addition to contacting these groups for support for broadband service, we can contact our school board members, administrators, and education associations. We need to request that this service be included under the responsibilities of the Wisconsin Public Services

Commission (PSC) and request their help. Internet providers also are included as one of the many players bringing broadband services to rural areas. • Many people don’t see the need for fast, reliable, affordable internet service. Educate the public about how high speed internet increases property value. The internet is important for their children/grandchildren’s schooling. The internet is invaluable for rural development in bringing business/economic/job growth and keeping young families in our communities. • Pay attention to what is happening on Governor

Ever’s 2020 Task Force on Broadband Service. Dates for the Broadband Task Force meetings can be found at https://psc.wi.gov/Pages/Programs/

BroadbandGovernorsTaskForce.aspx These task forces have been happening for the last 20 years, but now is the time for the task force to solve this conundrum for the sake of our students’ education, job growth, and the health of our rural communities.

References:

https://www.quora.com/What-year-did-telephones-become-standard-in-

U-S-home

INLocal Councils Embrace the Virtual World

Submitted by Gale Gerharz, WSRA State Council CoordinatorThis year has been one full of challenges. Our local councils have embraced these challenges with innovation and excitement and a little trepidation. Many of our Speakers Bureau speakers and other presenters have been willing to do presentations in this virtual world. The councils have planned many great experiences. Did you know that WSRA members with their local council membership have reciprocity allowing you to attend meetings at all 25 of WSRA’s local councils? In the times before COVID-19, attending other promotions for upcoming events and opportunities. council meetings might have been a long night These virtual presentations are often free or have a driving to a distant council and then driving home small fee. You can register by contacting the council after a full day of school. However, during these or checking the WSRA Calendar. You will receive a COVID-19 times, it is a great way to see speakers at link for the Zoom meeting/webinar and can take councils you would not have been able to go to advantage of hearing many great professional before. Please watch the WSRA Calendar, the WSRA development opportunities. Update, and WSRA InTouch along with council

Here is a line up of upcoming local council events:

October 2020

• October 15 Digital Formative Assessment with Keith Schroeder, Southeast Zone • October 20 From the WSRA Virtual Conference - Baptiste Paul and Liza Wiemer present Upstanders: Helping Students Speak Up Against Injustice and Hate, Central Zone

November 2020

• November 10 Passionate Readers with Pernille Ripp, Southwest Zone • November 10 Success in Online Learning with Keith Schroeder, Central Zone • November 12 Digital Tools for Enriching Writing with Keith Schroeder, Southeast Zone

December 2020

• December 1 • December 8 How to Create, Develop, Sustain and Assess a Socratic Seminar with Peg Grafwallner, Central Zone Best Books with CCBC, Southwest Zone

January 2021 • January 11 • January 19 • January 28

February 2021 • February 4 • February 16

March 2021 • March 2

April 2021

• April 20 Mindfulness and Self-Care for Teachers with Amanda Semrad, Southwest Zone Attending to Language for ELL and ALL (Academic Language) Learners with Kelly Luedeke, Central Zone Curious Journey with Brian Wilhorn, Southeast Zone

Interventions with Jan Richardson, Southwest Zone Designing Comprehension Instruction through Knowledge RichText Sets, Southeast Zone

Ramped up Read Alouds with Maria Walther