LUFKIN — The Deep East Texas Council of Governments, a voluntary association of local governments in an 11-county region of East Texas, is launching a broadband assessment and developing an action plan project aimed at improving broadband access and services in the region.
The assessment is being conducted by a specialized project team led by Sanborn Geospatial on behalf of DETCOG as part of a USDA Rural Development Broadband Technical Assistance Program award.
The study begins with an online survey and DETCOG will host three in-person public meetings and one virtual public meeting for residents and businesses that cannot attend the in-person meetings.
1:30 to 3 p.m., First Baptist Church, 202 S. Charlton St., Woodville
Zoom Meeting Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86518390667?pwd=DNTISmBWNsiyJPRIEas16ZHUUvKNsn.1
Meeting ID: 865 1839 0667
Passcode: 653245
6 to 7:30 p.m., County Annex Building, 227 W. First St., Groveton
Zoom Meeting Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82797419424?pwd=2yKVthZfYlxqXpGiQODs0Kzd326G1X.1
Meeting ID: 827 9741 9424
Passcode: 972093
1:30 to 3 p.m.
Zoom Meeting Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81732701553?pwd=XrtKAFw7jak9ytXzveoSeba2Su3GG0.1
Meeting ID: 817 3270 1553
Passcode: 758437
To take the survey, residents and business owners should go to www.detcog.gov/broadband and click on the appropriate link.
The purpose of the study is to improve internet service, reduce costs, increase speeds and reliability, improve infrastructure and expand choices. The meeting and survey will ask participants to share what they use the internet for — work, emails, virtual meetings, uploading files, gaming, etc. — and what else is really important to them, such as digital agriculture, digital learning, telehealth, or economic development.
The presentation and discussion will be the same at all of the public meetings, so residents only need to attend the meeting that is most convenient for them. Pizza and snacks will be served at the two in-person meetings.
The community engagement phase of the study began with the deployment of two online surveys — one concerning residential services and one about business services. Links to the surveys can be found on DETCOG’s website, www.detcog.gov.
The surveys are open until Sept. 30.
