RADIO/IT AND RURAL BROADBAND

As part of our Rural Broadband Initiative, Spalding County partnered with the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation (PIN), a public-private coalition aimed at "improving access and opportunities for all Georgians to drive innovation in urban, suburban, and rural areas of Georgia" Their charge for Spalding County was to research, help make improvements, and get wireless internet to underserved areas.

The project team researched and identified places in Spalding County where internet service was unreliable or unavailable Working with the PIN's Georgia Smart Communities Challenge and Smart Community Corps, they evaluated the status of that internet connectivity and how to improve it. They then outlined the technology hardware and software needed for connectivity and located opportunities for expansion

In August, the project was a named a finalist for the 2022 IEEE International Smart Cities Contest

LocalGovernment/Community CountyManagerDr SteveLedbetterand Spalding County Communication Systems Manager Mike Windham, the BoardofCommissioners, localcommunitygroups Research AteamfromtheGeorgiaInstituteofTechnology,includingDr AdaGavrilovskaandDrEllenZeguraplusstudentinternsDavidMoralesand AlexElliott(GeorgiaTech)andCollinSims(GeorgiaSouthernUniversity) PrivateSector DavidStewart,BandwidthSolutions ProgramManager/Partner–PartnershipforInclusiveInnovation(PIN)