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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 06/30/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p><br>Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake community in southern Missouri.<br><br>“To me, it’s like not having the post office to deliver your mail,” says Harvey, 73, a retired postal operations analyst who lives near Warsaw. He wants the option to buy the sort of high-speed internet coverage most of America now takes for granted.<br><br>Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend broadband access to every state resident.<br><br>With a historic amount of funds earmarked for broadband, Missouri has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring everyone up to speed, Gov. Mike Parson (R) told the <i>Bulletin</i> in April. Parson has long championed broadband expansion — especially for unserved or underserved rural areas.<br><br>“If all goes well, we should close the digital divide in our state totally in five years’ time,” he says.<br><br>Missouri has allocated $261 million of its American Rescue Plan Act funding for broadband efforts. And, last year, the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program awarded the state an additional $1.7 billion — the biggest public investment of its kind in Missouri to date.<br><br>The Federal Communications Commission sets the minimum speed for fixed broadband at 100 megabits per second for downloading and 20 for uploading. The state’s broadband map, at <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://broadbandmap.mo.gov/map?zoom=6&center=-10270730%2C4574381" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">broadbandmap.mo.gov</a></span></span>, shows how coverage varies across Missouri.<br><br>Among states receiving the new federal funding for broadband expansion, Missouri received the third-highest amount, with Texas and California receiving the most.<br><br>The amount of funding indicates the level of work needed to make access universal, says BJ Tanksley, director of <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://ded.mo.gov/office-broadband-development" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Missouri’s broadband development office</a></span></span>.<br><br>Tanksley predicts the federal dollars will cover the remaining 200,000 unserved and underserved businesses and homes not yet funded by other sources. The southern part of the state — less populated, heavily timbered and home to the Ozark Mountains — will benefit the most.<br><br>Internet providers, including large communications companies, nonprofit electric and telephone cooperatives and municipal-owned networks, can begin applying for money this month.<br><br>Funding is scheduled to begin this fall, with work expected to be completed by the end of 2028.<br><br>Aaron Bradshaw, CEO of Tipton-based Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, compares the expansion to the spread of electric service in rural America in the 1930s and 1940s. Sparse populations and relatively low profit potential led to the creation of nonprofit electric co-ops — with the help of funding under the New Deal — to get the job done.<br><br>Founded in 1939, Co-Mo launched a communications subsidiary in 2010 to provide fiber optic internet, TV and phone service.</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/db/f2/405269ef4dfab3e083274cabfcc9/1140-state-pages-july-mo-promo.jpg" alt="A man sits in a chair in his home" width="1140" height="655" style="height: auto; max-width: 800px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Workers began laying fiber optic cables for broadband in Joe Harvey's lake community in July. Download speed is expected to increase from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit.</figcaption> <div class="Figure-credit">Photo by Dominick Williams</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“We had people that lived in rural communities who would have to drive into town to the McDonald’s to download their school assignments or upload something,” Bradshaw says.<br><br><b>Reliable service</b><br><br>A University of Missouri survey and about 40 listening sessions held by the state in 2022 and 2023 show Missourians depend on the internet for daily life, from shopping and banking to entertainment and social media.<br><br>With rural health care provider offices closing, many AARP members have turned to virtual visits, which require a fast connection, says Jay Hardenbrook, advocacy director for <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Missouri</a></span></span>.<br><br><br>High-speed internet also provides an easy way to keep in touch with family and friends, Hardenbrook adds.<br><br>In his lakeside community, Harvey helped garner enough interest to attract a provider. Work laying fiber begins this month.<br><br>Once connected, Harvey’s download speed will jump from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit. In non-tech terms, that’s like flying compared to walking.<br><br>“Reliability is what we’re really after here,” he says. ■<br><br><b>____</b><br> <br></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">People Need Tech Skills, Affordable Devices</h2></span></span><p><br>Expanding broadband service to all residents is only part of Missouri’s internet challenge.<br><br>The state also plans to devote $14 million in federal Digital Equity Act funding to ensure that when Missourians do get high-speed service, they have the technology and necessary skills to fully engage in the digital world, says BJ Tanksley, head of the state broadband office.<br><br>Much of the money — which is expected to grow to $20 million in coming years—will be used for skills training, including understanding cybersecurity, setting up passwords and using the internet in general, Tanksley says.<br><br>“Some people take that for granted, but to the people that have not been living and working in this world, it can be a hurdle,” he says.<br><br>The funding also will help with device affordability, mostly through recycling and refurbishing computers for low-income users.<br><br>A 2023 University of Missouri survey of more than 7,500 Missouri households found that people were interested in digital training on a variety of topics — from finding trusted sources of information and accessing health care resources to managing and paying bills and gaining new job skills.<br><br>The state will largely work with schools, libraries and nonprofits on the effort, Tanksley says. The program is expected to launch this fall.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br><br><br><b>More on Broadband</b><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/cheap-internet-options.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Find a Cheap Internet Plan</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/affordable-connectivity-program-ending.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Time Runs Out on Federal Broadband Program</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://blog.aarp.org/fighting-for-you/state-digital-equity-manual" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Resource Helps States Improve Internet Access</a></span></span></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-video-title="How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6160397621001" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Missouri. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank">AARP Missouri</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/jefferson-city-mo/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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--primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 06/30/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p><br>Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake community in southern Missouri.<br><br>“To me, it’s like not having the post office to deliver your mail,” says Harvey, 73, a retired postal operations analyst who lives near Warsaw. He wants the option to buy the sort of high-speed internet coverage most of America now takes for granted.<br><br>Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend broadband access to every state resident.<br><br>With a historic amount of funds earmarked for broadband, Missouri has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring everyone up to speed, Gov. Mike Parson (R) told the <i>Bulletin</i> in April. Parson has long championed broadband expansion — especially for unserved or underserved rural areas.<br><br>“If all goes well, we should close the digital divide in our state totally in five years’ time,” he says.<br><br>Missouri has allocated $261 million of its American Rescue Plan Act funding for broadband efforts. And, last year, the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program awarded the state an additional $1.7 billion — the biggest public investment of its kind in Missouri to date.<br><br>The Federal Communications Commission sets the minimum speed for fixed broadband at 100 megabits per second for downloading and 20 for uploading. The state’s broadband map, at <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://broadbandmap.mo.gov/map?zoom=6&center=-10270730%2C4574381" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">broadbandmap.mo.gov</a></span></span>, shows how coverage varies across Missouri.<br><br>Among states receiving the new federal funding for broadband expansion, Missouri received the third-highest amount, with Texas and California receiving the most.<br><br>The amount of funding indicates the level of work needed to make access universal, says BJ Tanksley, director of <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://ded.mo.gov/office-broadband-development" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Missouri’s broadband development office</a></span></span>.<br><br>Tanksley predicts the federal dollars will cover the remaining 200,000 unserved and underserved businesses and homes not yet funded by other sources. The southern part of the state — less populated, heavily timbered and home to the Ozark Mountains — will benefit the most.<br><br>Internet providers, including large communications companies, nonprofit electric and telephone cooperatives and municipal-owned networks, can begin applying for money this month.<br><br>Funding is scheduled to begin this fall, with work expected to be completed by the end of 2028.<br><br>Aaron Bradshaw, CEO of Tipton-based Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, compares the expansion to the spread of electric service in rural America in the 1930s and 1940s. Sparse populations and relatively low profit potential led to the creation of nonprofit electric co-ops — with the help of funding under the New Deal — to get the job done.<br><br>Founded in 1939, Co-Mo launched a communications subsidiary in 2010 to provide fiber optic internet, TV and phone service.</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/db/f2/405269ef4dfab3e083274cabfcc9/1140-state-pages-july-mo-promo.jpg" alt="A man sits in a chair in his home" width="1140" height="655" style="height: auto; max-width: 800px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Workers began laying fiber optic cables for broadband in Joe Harvey's lake community in July. Download speed is expected to increase from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit.</figcaption> <div class="Figure-credit">Photo by Dominick Williams</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“We had people that lived in rural communities who would have to drive into town to the McDonald’s to download their school assignments or upload something,” Bradshaw says.<br><br><b>Reliable service</b><br><br>A University of Missouri survey and about 40 listening sessions held by the state in 2022 and 2023 show Missourians depend on the internet for daily life, from shopping and banking to entertainment and social media.<br><br>With rural health care provider offices closing, many AARP members have turned to virtual visits, which require a fast connection, says Jay Hardenbrook, advocacy director for <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Missouri</a></span></span>.<br><br><br>High-speed internet also provides an easy way to keep in touch with family and friends, Hardenbrook adds.<br><br>In his lakeside community, Harvey helped garner enough interest to attract a provider. Work laying fiber begins this month.<br><br>Once connected, Harvey’s download speed will jump from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit. In non-tech terms, that’s like flying compared to walking.<br><br>“Reliability is what we’re really after here,” he says. ■<br><br><b>____</b><br> <br></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">People Need Tech Skills, Affordable Devices</h2></span></span><p><br>Expanding broadband service to all residents is only part of Missouri’s internet challenge.<br><br>The state also plans to devote $14 million in federal Digital Equity Act funding to ensure that when Missourians do get high-speed service, they have the technology and necessary skills to fully engage in the digital world, says BJ Tanksley, head of the state broadband office.<br><br>Much of the money — which is expected to grow to $20 million in coming years—will be used for skills training, including understanding cybersecurity, setting up passwords and using the internet in general, Tanksley says.<br><br>“Some people take that for granted, but to the people that have not been living and working in this world, it can be a hurdle,” he says.<br><br>The funding also will help with device affordability, mostly through recycling and refurbishing computers for low-income users.<br><br>A 2023 University of Missouri survey of more than 7,500 Missouri households found that people were interested in digital training on a variety of topics — from finding trusted sources of information and accessing health care resources to managing and paying bills and gaining new job skills.<br><br>The state will largely work with schools, libraries and nonprofits on the effort, Tanksley says. The program is expected to launch this fall.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br><br><br><b>More on Broadband</b><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/cheap-internet-options.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Find a Cheap Internet Plan</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/affordable-connectivity-program-ending.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Time Runs Out on Federal Broadband Program</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://blog.aarp.org/fighting-for-you/state-digital-equity-manual" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Resource Helps States Improve Internet Access</a></span></span></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-video-title="How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6160397621001" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Missouri. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank">AARP Missouri</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/jefferson-city-mo/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 06/30/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p><br>Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake community in southern Missouri.<br><br>“To me, it’s like not having the post office to deliver your mail,” says Harvey, 73, a retired postal operations analyst who lives near Warsaw. He wants the option to buy the sort of high-speed internet coverage most of America now takes for granted.<br><br>Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend broadband access to every state resident.<br><br>With a historic amount of funds earmarked for broadband, Missouri has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring everyone up to speed, Gov. Mike Parson (R) told the <i>Bulletin</i> in April. Parson has long championed broadband expansion — especially for unserved or underserved rural areas.<br><br>“If all goes well, we should close the digital divide in our state totally in five years’ time,” he says.<br><br>Missouri has allocated $261 million of its American Rescue Plan Act funding for broadband efforts. And, last year, the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program awarded the state an additional $1.7 billion — the biggest public investment of its kind in Missouri to date.<br><br>The Federal Communications Commission sets the minimum speed for fixed broadband at 100 megabits per second for downloading and 20 for uploading. The state’s broadband map, at <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://broadbandmap.mo.gov/map?zoom=6&center=-10270730%2C4574381" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">broadbandmap.mo.gov</a></span></span>, shows how coverage varies across Missouri.<br><br>Among states receiving the new federal funding for broadband expansion, Missouri received the third-highest amount, with Texas and California receiving the most.<br><br>The amount of funding indicates the level of work needed to make access universal, says BJ Tanksley, director of <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://ded.mo.gov/office-broadband-development" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Missouri’s broadband development office</a></span></span>.<br><br>Tanksley predicts the federal dollars will cover the remaining 200,000 unserved and underserved businesses and homes not yet funded by other sources. The southern part of the state — less populated, heavily timbered and home to the Ozark Mountains — will benefit the most.<br><br>Internet providers, including large communications companies, nonprofit electric and telephone cooperatives and municipal-owned networks, can begin applying for money this month.<br><br>Funding is scheduled to begin this fall, with work expected to be completed by the end of 2028.<br><br>Aaron Bradshaw, CEO of Tipton-based Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, compares the expansion to the spread of electric service in rural America in the 1930s and 1940s. Sparse populations and relatively low profit potential led to the creation of nonprofit electric co-ops — with the help of funding under the New Deal — to get the job done.<br><br>Founded in 1939, Co-Mo launched a communications subsidiary in 2010 to provide fiber optic internet, TV and phone service.</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/db/f2/405269ef4dfab3e083274cabfcc9/1140-state-pages-july-mo-promo.jpg" alt="A man sits in a chair in his home" width="1140" height="655" style="height: auto; max-width: 800px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Workers began laying fiber optic cables for broadband in Joe Harvey's lake community in July. Download speed is expected to increase from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit.</figcaption> <div class="Figure-credit">Photo by Dominick Williams</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“We had people that lived in rural communities who would have to drive into town to the McDonald’s to download their school assignments or upload something,” Bradshaw says.<br><br><b>Reliable service</b><br><br>A University of Missouri survey and about 40 listening sessions held by the state in 2022 and 2023 show Missourians depend on the internet for daily life, from shopping and banking to entertainment and social media.<br><br>With rural health care provider offices closing, many AARP members have turned to virtual visits, which require a fast connection, says Jay Hardenbrook, advocacy director for <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Missouri</a></span></span>.<br><br><br>High-speed internet also provides an easy way to keep in touch with family and friends, Hardenbrook adds.<br><br>In his lakeside community, Harvey helped garner enough interest to attract a provider. Work laying fiber begins this month.<br><br>Once connected, Harvey’s download speed will jump from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit. In non-tech terms, that’s like flying compared to walking.<br><br>“Reliability is what we’re really after here,” he says. ■<br><br><b>____</b><br> <br></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">People Need Tech Skills, Affordable Devices</h2></span></span><p><br>Expanding broadband service to all residents is only part of Missouri’s internet challenge.<br><br>The state also plans to devote $14 million in federal Digital Equity Act funding to ensure that when Missourians do get high-speed service, they have the technology and necessary skills to fully engage in the digital world, says BJ Tanksley, head of the state broadband office.<br><br>Much of the money — which is expected to grow to $20 million in coming years—will be used for skills training, including understanding cybersecurity, setting up passwords and using the internet in general, Tanksley says.<br><br>“Some people take that for granted, but to the people that have not been living and working in this world, it can be a hurdle,” he says.<br><br>The funding also will help with device affordability, mostly through recycling and refurbishing computers for low-income users.<br><br>A 2023 University of Missouri survey of more than 7,500 Missouri households found that people were interested in digital training on a variety of topics — from finding trusted sources of information and accessing health care resources to managing and paying bills and gaining new job skills.<br><br>The state will largely work with schools, libraries and nonprofits on the effort, Tanksley says. The program is expected to launch this fall.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br><br><br><b>More on Broadband</b><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/cheap-internet-options.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Find a Cheap Internet Plan</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/affordable-connectivity-program-ending.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Time Runs Out on Federal Broadband Program</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://blog.aarp.org/fighting-for-you/state-digital-equity-manual" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Resource Helps States Improve Internet Access</a></span></span></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-video-title="How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6160397621001" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Missouri. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank">AARP Missouri</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/jefferson-city-mo/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Missouri Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Missouri Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Missouri</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:MOAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">MOAARP@aarp.org </a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Missouri</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/contact-aarp-missouri-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-JEFFERSONCITY-MO" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmissouri" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpmontana/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake" name="description"/> <meta content="Closing, Digital, Divide, in, Missouri" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/closing-the-digital-divide-in-missouri" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/closing-the-digital-divide-in-missouri-mo-2024-06-30.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend high-speed internet access to every"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/24b8638/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1019x655+61+0/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fd4%2Ffb%2F2609ca3c4073b77cecec074228ab%2F1140-state-pages-july-mo-inset.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend high-speed internet access to every"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/24b8638/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1019x655+61+0/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fd4%2Ffb%2F2609ca3c4073b77cecec074228ab%2F1140-state-pages-july-mo-inset.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 06/30/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p><br>Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake community in southern Missouri.<br><br>“To me, it’s like not having the post office to deliver your mail,” says Harvey, 73, a retired postal operations analyst who lives near Warsaw. He wants the option to buy the sort of high-speed internet coverage most of America now takes for granted.<br><br>Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend broadband access to every state resident.<br><br>With a historic amount of funds earmarked for broadband, Missouri has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring everyone up to speed, Gov. Mike Parson (R) told the <i>Bulletin</i> in April. Parson has long championed broadband expansion — especially for unserved or underserved rural areas.<br><br>“If all goes well, we should close the digital divide in our state totally in five years’ time,” he says.<br><br>Missouri has allocated $261 million of its American Rescue Plan Act funding for broadband efforts. And, last year, the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program awarded the state an additional $1.7 billion — the biggest public investment of its kind in Missouri to date.<br><br>The Federal Communications Commission sets the minimum speed for fixed broadband at 100 megabits per second for downloading and 20 for uploading. The state’s broadband map, at <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://broadbandmap.mo.gov/map?zoom=6&center=-10270730%2C4574381" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">broadbandmap.mo.gov</a></span></span>, shows how coverage varies across Missouri.<br><br>Among states receiving the new federal funding for broadband expansion, Missouri received the third-highest amount, with Texas and California receiving the most.<br><br>The amount of funding indicates the level of work needed to make access universal, says BJ Tanksley, director of <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://ded.mo.gov/office-broadband-development" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Missouri’s broadband development office</a></span></span>.<br><br>Tanksley predicts the federal dollars will cover the remaining 200,000 unserved and underserved businesses and homes not yet funded by other sources. The southern part of the state — less populated, heavily timbered and home to the Ozark Mountains — will benefit the most.<br><br>Internet providers, including large communications companies, nonprofit electric and telephone cooperatives and municipal-owned networks, can begin applying for money this month.<br><br>Funding is scheduled to begin this fall, with work expected to be completed by the end of 2028.<br><br>Aaron Bradshaw, CEO of Tipton-based Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, compares the expansion to the spread of electric service in rural America in the 1930s and 1940s. Sparse populations and relatively low profit potential led to the creation of nonprofit electric co-ops — with the help of funding under the New Deal — to get the job done.<br><br>Founded in 1939, Co-Mo launched a communications subsidiary in 2010 to provide fiber optic internet, TV and phone service.</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/db/f2/405269ef4dfab3e083274cabfcc9/1140-state-pages-july-mo-promo.jpg" alt="A man sits in a chair in his home" width="1140" height="655" style="height: auto; max-width: 800px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Workers began laying fiber optic cables for broadband in Joe Harvey's lake community in July. Download speed is expected to increase from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit.</figcaption> <div class="Figure-credit">Photo by Dominick Williams</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“We had people that lived in rural communities who would have to drive into town to the McDonald’s to download their school assignments or upload something,” Bradshaw says.<br><br><b>Reliable service</b><br><br>A University of Missouri survey and about 40 listening sessions held by the state in 2022 and 2023 show Missourians depend on the internet for daily life, from shopping and banking to entertainment and social media.<br><br>With rural health care provider offices closing, many AARP members have turned to virtual visits, which require a fast connection, says Jay Hardenbrook, advocacy director for <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Missouri</a></span></span>.<br><br><br>High-speed internet also provides an easy way to keep in touch with family and friends, Hardenbrook adds.<br><br>In his lakeside community, Harvey helped garner enough interest to attract a provider. Work laying fiber begins this month.<br><br>Once connected, Harvey’s download speed will jump from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit. In non-tech terms, that’s like flying compared to walking.<br><br>“Reliability is what we’re really after here,” he says. ■<br><br><b>____</b><br> <br></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">People Need Tech Skills, Affordable Devices</h2></span></span><p><br>Expanding broadband service to all residents is only part of Missouri’s internet challenge.<br><br>The state also plans to devote $14 million in federal Digital Equity Act funding to ensure that when Missourians do get high-speed service, they have the technology and necessary skills to fully engage in the digital world, says BJ Tanksley, head of the state broadband office.<br><br>Much of the money — which is expected to grow to $20 million in coming years—will be used for skills training, including understanding cybersecurity, setting up passwords and using the internet in general, Tanksley says.<br><br>“Some people take that for granted, but to the people that have not been living and working in this world, it can be a hurdle,” he says.<br><br>The funding also will help with device affordability, mostly through recycling and refurbishing computers for low-income users.<br><br>A 2023 University of Missouri survey of more than 7,500 Missouri households found that people were interested in digital training on a variety of topics — from finding trusted sources of information and accessing health care resources to managing and paying bills and gaining new job skills.<br><br>The state will largely work with schools, libraries and nonprofits on the effort, Tanksley says. The program is expected to launch this fall.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br><br><br><b>More on Broadband</b><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/cheap-internet-options.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Find a Cheap Internet Plan</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/affordable-connectivity-program-ending.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Time Runs Out on Federal Broadband Program</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://blog.aarp.org/fighting-for-you/state-digital-equity-manual" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Resource Helps States Improve Internet Access</a></span></span></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-video-title="How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6160397621001" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Missouri. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank">AARP Missouri</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/jefferson-city-mo/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display == 'none' ? 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Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 06/30/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p><br>Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake community in southern Missouri.<br><br>“To me, it’s like not having the post office to deliver your mail,” says Harvey, 73, a retired postal operations analyst who lives near Warsaw. He wants the option to buy the sort of high-speed internet coverage most of America now takes for granted.<br><br>Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend broadband access to every state resident.<br><br>With a historic amount of funds earmarked for broadband, Missouri has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring everyone up to speed, Gov. Mike Parson (R) told the <i>Bulletin</i> in April. Parson has long championed broadband expansion — especially for unserved or underserved rural areas.<br><br>“If all goes well, we should close the digital divide in our state totally in five years’ time,” he says.<br><br>Missouri has allocated $261 million of its American Rescue Plan Act funding for broadband efforts. And, last year, the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program awarded the state an additional $1.7 billion — the biggest public investment of its kind in Missouri to date.<br><br>The Federal Communications Commission sets the minimum speed for fixed broadband at 100 megabits per second for downloading and 20 for uploading. The state’s broadband map, at <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://broadbandmap.mo.gov/map?zoom=6&center=-10270730%2C4574381" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">broadbandmap.mo.gov</a></span></span>, shows how coverage varies across Missouri.<br><br>Among states receiving the new federal funding for broadband expansion, Missouri received the third-highest amount, with Texas and California receiving the most.<br><br>The amount of funding indicates the level of work needed to make access universal, says BJ Tanksley, director of <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://ded.mo.gov/office-broadband-development" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Missouri’s broadband development office</a></span></span>.<br><br>Tanksley predicts the federal dollars will cover the remaining 200,000 unserved and underserved businesses and homes not yet funded by other sources. The southern part of the state — less populated, heavily timbered and home to the Ozark Mountains — will benefit the most.<br><br>Internet providers, including large communications companies, nonprofit electric and telephone cooperatives and municipal-owned networks, can begin applying for money this month.<br><br>Funding is scheduled to begin this fall, with work expected to be completed by the end of 2028.<br><br>Aaron Bradshaw, CEO of Tipton-based Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, compares the expansion to the spread of electric service in rural America in the 1930s and 1940s. Sparse populations and relatively low profit potential led to the creation of nonprofit electric co-ops — with the help of funding under the New Deal — to get the job done.<br><br>Founded in 1939, Co-Mo launched a communications subsidiary in 2010 to provide fiber optic internet, TV and phone service.</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/db/f2/405269ef4dfab3e083274cabfcc9/1140-state-pages-july-mo-promo.jpg" alt="A man sits in a chair in his home" width="1140" height="655" style="height: auto; max-width: 800px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Workers began laying fiber optic cables for broadband in Joe Harvey's lake community in July. Download speed is expected to increase from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit.</figcaption> <div class="Figure-credit">Photo by Dominick Williams</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“We had people that lived in rural communities who would have to drive into town to the McDonald’s to download their school assignments or upload something,” Bradshaw says.<br><br><b>Reliable service</b><br><br>A University of Missouri survey and about 40 listening sessions held by the state in 2022 and 2023 show Missourians depend on the internet for daily life, from shopping and banking to entertainment and social media.<br><br>With rural health care provider offices closing, many AARP members have turned to virtual visits, which require a fast connection, says Jay Hardenbrook, advocacy director for <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Missouri</a></span></span>.<br><br><br>High-speed internet also provides an easy way to keep in touch with family and friends, Hardenbrook adds.<br><br>In his lakeside community, Harvey helped garner enough interest to attract a provider. Work laying fiber begins this month.<br><br>Once connected, Harvey’s download speed will jump from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit. In non-tech terms, that’s like flying compared to walking.<br><br>“Reliability is what we’re really after here,” he says. ■<br><br><b>____</b><br> <br></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">People Need Tech Skills, Affordable Devices</h2></span></span><p><br>Expanding broadband service to all residents is only part of Missouri’s internet challenge.<br><br>The state also plans to devote $14 million in federal Digital Equity Act funding to ensure that when Missourians do get high-speed service, they have the technology and necessary skills to fully engage in the digital world, says BJ Tanksley, head of the state broadband office.<br><br>Much of the money — which is expected to grow to $20 million in coming years—will be used for skills training, including understanding cybersecurity, setting up passwords and using the internet in general, Tanksley says.<br><br>“Some people take that for granted, but to the people that have not been living and working in this world, it can be a hurdle,” he says.<br><br>The funding also will help with device affordability, mostly through recycling and refurbishing computers for low-income users.<br><br>A 2023 University of Missouri survey of more than 7,500 Missouri households found that people were interested in digital training on a variety of topics — from finding trusted sources of information and accessing health care resources to managing and paying bills and gaining new job skills.<br><br>The state will largely work with schools, libraries and nonprofits on the effort, Tanksley says. The program is expected to launch this fall.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br><br><br><b>More on Broadband</b><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/cheap-internet-options.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Find a Cheap Internet Plan</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/affordable-connectivity-program-ending.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Time Runs Out on Federal Broadband Program</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://blog.aarp.org/fighting-for-you/state-digital-equity-manual" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Resource Helps States Improve Internet Access</a></span></span></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-video-title="How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6160397621001" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Missouri. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank">AARP Missouri</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/jefferson-city-mo/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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}); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake" name="description"/> <meta content="Closing, Digital, Divide, in, Missouri" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/closing-the-digital-divide-in-missouri" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/closing-the-digital-divide-in-missouri-mo-2024-06-30.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend high-speed internet access to every"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/24b8638/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1019x655+61+0/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fd4%2Ffb%2F2609ca3c4073b77cecec074228ab%2F1140-state-pages-july-mo-inset.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend high-speed internet access to every"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/24b8638/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1019x655+61+0/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fd4%2Ffb%2F2609ca3c4073b77cecec074228ab%2F1140-state-pages-july-mo-inset.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 06/30/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p><br>Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake community in southern Missouri.<br><br>“To me, it’s like not having the post office to deliver your mail,” says Harvey, 73, a retired postal operations analyst who lives near Warsaw. He wants the option to buy the sort of high-speed internet coverage most of America now takes for granted.<br><br>Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend broadband access to every state resident.<br><br>With a historic amount of funds earmarked for broadband, Missouri has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring everyone up to speed, Gov. Mike Parson (R) told the <i>Bulletin</i> in April. Parson has long championed broadband expansion — especially for unserved or underserved rural areas.<br><br>“If all goes well, we should close the digital divide in our state totally in five years’ time,” he says.<br><br>Missouri has allocated $261 million of its American Rescue Plan Act funding for broadband efforts. And, last year, the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program awarded the state an additional $1.7 billion — the biggest public investment of its kind in Missouri to date.<br><br>The Federal Communications Commission sets the minimum speed for fixed broadband at 100 megabits per second for downloading and 20 for uploading. The state’s broadband map, at <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://broadbandmap.mo.gov/map?zoom=6&center=-10270730%2C4574381" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">broadbandmap.mo.gov</a></span></span>, shows how coverage varies across Missouri.<br><br>Among states receiving the new federal funding for broadband expansion, Missouri received the third-highest amount, with Texas and California receiving the most.<br><br>The amount of funding indicates the level of work needed to make access universal, says BJ Tanksley, director of <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://ded.mo.gov/office-broadband-development" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Missouri’s broadband development office</a></span></span>.<br><br>Tanksley predicts the federal dollars will cover the remaining 200,000 unserved and underserved businesses and homes not yet funded by other sources. The southern part of the state — less populated, heavily timbered and home to the Ozark Mountains — will benefit the most.<br><br>Internet providers, including large communications companies, nonprofit electric and telephone cooperatives and municipal-owned networks, can begin applying for money this month.<br><br>Funding is scheduled to begin this fall, with work expected to be completed by the end of 2028.<br><br>Aaron Bradshaw, CEO of Tipton-based Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, compares the expansion to the spread of electric service in rural America in the 1930s and 1940s. Sparse populations and relatively low profit potential led to the creation of nonprofit electric co-ops — with the help of funding under the New Deal — to get the job done.<br><br>Founded in 1939, Co-Mo launched a communications subsidiary in 2010 to provide fiber optic internet, TV and phone service.</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/db/f2/405269ef4dfab3e083274cabfcc9/1140-state-pages-july-mo-promo.jpg" alt="A man sits in a chair in his home" width="1140" height="655" style="height: auto; max-width: 800px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Workers began laying fiber optic cables for broadband in Joe Harvey's lake community in July. Download speed is expected to increase from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit.</figcaption> <div class="Figure-credit">Photo by Dominick Williams</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“We had people that lived in rural communities who would have to drive into town to the McDonald’s to download their school assignments or upload something,” Bradshaw says.<br><br><b>Reliable service</b><br><br>A University of Missouri survey and about 40 listening sessions held by the state in 2022 and 2023 show Missourians depend on the internet for daily life, from shopping and banking to entertainment and social media.<br><br>With rural health care provider offices closing, many AARP members have turned to virtual visits, which require a fast connection, says Jay Hardenbrook, advocacy director for <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Missouri</a></span></span>.<br><br><br>High-speed internet also provides an easy way to keep in touch with family and friends, Hardenbrook adds.<br><br>In his lakeside community, Harvey helped garner enough interest to attract a provider. Work laying fiber begins this month.<br><br>Once connected, Harvey’s download speed will jump from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit. In non-tech terms, that’s like flying compared to walking.<br><br>“Reliability is what we’re really after here,” he says. ■<br><br><b>____</b><br> <br></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">People Need Tech Skills, Affordable Devices</h2></span></span><p><br>Expanding broadband service to all residents is only part of Missouri’s internet challenge.<br><br>The state also plans to devote $14 million in federal Digital Equity Act funding to ensure that when Missourians do get high-speed service, they have the technology and necessary skills to fully engage in the digital world, says BJ Tanksley, head of the state broadband office.<br><br>Much of the money — which is expected to grow to $20 million in coming years—will be used for skills training, including understanding cybersecurity, setting up passwords and using the internet in general, Tanksley says.<br><br>“Some people take that for granted, but to the people that have not been living and working in this world, it can be a hurdle,” he says.<br><br>The funding also will help with device affordability, mostly through recycling and refurbishing computers for low-income users.<br><br>A 2023 University of Missouri survey of more than 7,500 Missouri households found that people were interested in digital training on a variety of topics — from finding trusted sources of information and accessing health care resources to managing and paying bills and gaining new job skills.<br><br>The state will largely work with schools, libraries and nonprofits on the effort, Tanksley says. The program is expected to launch this fall.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br><br><br><b>More on Broadband</b><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/cheap-internet-options.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Find a Cheap Internet Plan</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/affordable-connectivity-program-ending.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Time Runs Out on Federal Broadband Program</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://blog.aarp.org/fighting-for-you/state-digital-equity-manual" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Resource Helps States Improve Internet Access</a></span></span></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-video-title="How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6160397621001" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Missouri. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank">AARP Missouri</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/jefferson-city-mo/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Missouri Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Missouri Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Missouri</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:MOAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">MOAARP@aarp.org </a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Missouri</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/contact-aarp-missouri-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-JEFFERSONCITY-MO" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmissouri" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpmontana/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); 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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 54]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 06/30/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p><br>Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake community in southern Missouri.<br><br>“To me, it’s like not having the post office to deliver your mail,” says Harvey, 73, a retired postal operations analyst who lives near Warsaw. He wants the option to buy the sort of high-speed internet coverage most of America now takes for granted.<br><br>Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend broadband access to every state resident.<br><br>With a historic amount of funds earmarked for broadband, Missouri has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring everyone up to speed, Gov. Mike Parson (R) told the <i>Bulletin</i> in April. Parson has long championed broadband expansion — especially for unserved or underserved rural areas.<br><br>“If all goes well, we should close the digital divide in our state totally in five years’ time,” he says.<br><br>Missouri has allocated $261 million of its American Rescue Plan Act funding for broadband efforts. And, last year, the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program awarded the state an additional $1.7 billion — the biggest public investment of its kind in Missouri to date.<br><br>The Federal Communications Commission sets the minimum speed for fixed broadband at 100 megabits per second for downloading and 20 for uploading. The state’s broadband map, at <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://broadbandmap.mo.gov/map?zoom=6&center=-10270730%2C4574381" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">broadbandmap.mo.gov</a></span></span>, shows how coverage varies across Missouri.<br><br>Among states receiving the new federal funding for broadband expansion, Missouri received the third-highest amount, with Texas and California receiving the most.<br><br>The amount of funding indicates the level of work needed to make access universal, says BJ Tanksley, director of <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://ded.mo.gov/office-broadband-development" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Missouri’s broadband development office</a></span></span>.<br><br>Tanksley predicts the federal dollars will cover the remaining 200,000 unserved and underserved businesses and homes not yet funded by other sources. The southern part of the state — less populated, heavily timbered and home to the Ozark Mountains — will benefit the most.<br><br>Internet providers, including large communications companies, nonprofit electric and telephone cooperatives and municipal-owned networks, can begin applying for money this month.<br><br>Funding is scheduled to begin this fall, with work expected to be completed by the end of 2028.<br><br>Aaron Bradshaw, CEO of Tipton-based Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, compares the expansion to the spread of electric service in rural America in the 1930s and 1940s. Sparse populations and relatively low profit potential led to the creation of nonprofit electric co-ops — with the help of funding under the New Deal — to get the job done.<br><br>Founded in 1939, Co-Mo launched a communications subsidiary in 2010 to provide fiber optic internet, TV and phone service.</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/db/f2/405269ef4dfab3e083274cabfcc9/1140-state-pages-july-mo-promo.jpg" alt="A man sits in a chair in his home" width="1140" height="655" style="height: auto; max-width: 800px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Workers began laying fiber optic cables for broadband in Joe Harvey's lake community in July. Download speed is expected to increase from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit.</figcaption> <div class="Figure-credit">Photo by Dominick Williams</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“We had people that lived in rural communities who would have to drive into town to the McDonald’s to download their school assignments or upload something,” Bradshaw says.<br><br><b>Reliable service</b><br><br>A University of Missouri survey and about 40 listening sessions held by the state in 2022 and 2023 show Missourians depend on the internet for daily life, from shopping and banking to entertainment and social media.<br><br>With rural health care provider offices closing, many AARP members have turned to virtual visits, which require a fast connection, says Jay Hardenbrook, advocacy director for <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Missouri</a></span></span>.<br><br><br>High-speed internet also provides an easy way to keep in touch with family and friends, Hardenbrook adds.<br><br>In his lakeside community, Harvey helped garner enough interest to attract a provider. Work laying fiber begins this month.<br><br>Once connected, Harvey’s download speed will jump from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit. In non-tech terms, that’s like flying compared to walking.<br><br>“Reliability is what we’re really after here,” he says. ■<br><br><b>____</b><br> <br></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">People Need Tech Skills, Affordable Devices</h2></span></span><p><br>Expanding broadband service to all residents is only part of Missouri’s internet challenge.<br><br>The state also plans to devote $14 million in federal Digital Equity Act funding to ensure that when Missourians do get high-speed service, they have the technology and necessary skills to fully engage in the digital world, says BJ Tanksley, head of the state broadband office.<br><br>Much of the money — which is expected to grow to $20 million in coming years—will be used for skills training, including understanding cybersecurity, setting up passwords and using the internet in general, Tanksley says.<br><br>“Some people take that for granted, but to the people that have not been living and working in this world, it can be a hurdle,” he says.<br><br>The funding also will help with device affordability, mostly through recycling and refurbishing computers for low-income users.<br><br>A 2023 University of Missouri survey of more than 7,500 Missouri households found that people were interested in digital training on a variety of topics — from finding trusted sources of information and accessing health care resources to managing and paying bills and gaining new job skills.<br><br>The state will largely work with schools, libraries and nonprofits on the effort, Tanksley says. The program is expected to launch this fall.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br><br><br><b>More on Broadband</b><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/cheap-internet-options.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Find a Cheap Internet Plan</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/affordable-connectivity-program-ending.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Time Runs Out on Federal Broadband Program</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://blog.aarp.org/fighting-for-you/state-digital-equity-manual" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Resource Helps States Improve Internet Access</a></span></span></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-video-title="How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6160397621001" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Missouri. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank">AARP Missouri</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/jefferson-city-mo/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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He wants the option to buy the sort of high-speed internet coverage most of America now takes for granted.<br><br>Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend broadband access to every state resident.<br><br>With a historic amount of funds earmarked for broadband, Missouri has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring everyone up to speed, Gov. Mike Parson (R) told the <i>Bulletin</i> in April. Parson has long championed broadband expansion — especially for unserved or underserved rural areas.<br><br>“If all goes well, we should close the digital divide in our state totally in five years’ time,” he says.<br><br>Missouri has allocated $261 million of its American Rescue Plan Act funding for broadband efforts. And, last year, the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program awarded the state an additional $1.7 billion — the biggest public investment of its kind in Missouri to date.<br><br>The Federal Communications Commission sets the minimum speed for fixed broadband at 100 megabits per second for downloading and 20 for uploading. The state’s broadband map, at <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://broadbandmap.mo.gov/map?zoom=6&center=-10270730%2C4574381" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">broadbandmap.mo.gov</a></span></span>, shows how coverage varies across Missouri.<br><br>Among states receiving the new federal funding for broadband expansion, Missouri received the third-highest amount, with Texas and California receiving the most.<br><br>The amount of funding indicates the level of work needed to make access universal, says BJ Tanksley, director of <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://ded.mo.gov/office-broadband-development" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Missouri’s broadband development office</a></span></span>.<br><br>Tanksley predicts the federal dollars will cover the remaining 200,000 unserved and underserved businesses and homes not yet funded by other sources. The southern part of the state — less populated, heavily timbered and home to the Ozark Mountains — will benefit the most.<br><br>Internet providers, including large communications companies, nonprofit electric and telephone cooperatives and municipal-owned networks, can begin applying for money this month.<br><br>Funding is scheduled to begin this fall, with work expected to be completed by the end of 2028.<br><br>Aaron Bradshaw, CEO of Tipton-based Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, compares the expansion to the spread of electric service in rural America in the 1930s and 1940s. Sparse populations and relatively low profit potential led to the creation of nonprofit electric co-ops — with the help of funding under the New Deal — to get the job done.<br><br>Founded in 1939, Co-Mo launched a communications subsidiary in 2010 to provide fiber optic internet, TV and phone service.</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/db/f2/405269ef4dfab3e083274cabfcc9/1140-state-pages-july-mo-promo.jpg" alt="A man sits in a chair in his home" width="1140" height="655" style="height: auto; max-width: 800px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Workers began laying fiber optic cables for broadband in Joe Harvey's lake community in July. Download speed is expected to increase from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit.</figcaption> <div class="Figure-credit">Photo by Dominick Williams</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“We had people that lived in rural communities who would have to drive into town to the McDonald’s to download their school assignments or upload something,” Bradshaw says.<br><br><b>Reliable service</b><br><br>A University of Missouri survey and about 40 listening sessions held by the state in 2022 and 2023 show Missourians depend on the internet for daily life, from shopping and banking to entertainment and social media.<br><br>With rural health care provider offices closing, many AARP members have turned to virtual visits, which require a fast connection, says Jay Hardenbrook, advocacy director for <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Missouri</a></span></span>.<br><br><br>High-speed internet also provides an easy way to keep in touch with family and friends, Hardenbrook adds.<br><br>In his lakeside community, Harvey helped garner enough interest to attract a provider. Work laying fiber begins this month.<br><br>Once connected, Harvey’s download speed will jump from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit. In non-tech terms, that’s like flying compared to walking.<br><br>“Reliability is what we’re really after here,” he says. ■<br><br><b>____</b><br> <br></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">People Need Tech Skills, Affordable Devices</h2></span></span><p><br>Expanding broadband service to all residents is only part of Missouri’s internet challenge.<br><br>The state also plans to devote $14 million in federal Digital Equity Act funding to ensure that when Missourians do get high-speed service, they have the technology and necessary skills to fully engage in the digital world, says BJ Tanksley, head of the state broadband office.<br><br>Much of the money — which is expected to grow to $20 million in coming years—will be used for skills training, including understanding cybersecurity, setting up passwords and using the internet in general, Tanksley says.<br><br>“Some people take that for granted, but to the people that have not been living and working in this world, it can be a hurdle,” he says.<br><br>The funding also will help with device affordability, mostly through recycling and refurbishing computers for low-income users.<br><br>A 2023 University of Missouri survey of more than 7,500 Missouri households found that people were interested in digital training on a variety of topics — from finding trusted sources of information and accessing health care resources to managing and paying bills and gaining new job skills.<br><br>The state will largely work with schools, libraries and nonprofits on the effort, Tanksley says. The program is expected to launch this fall.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br><br><br><b>More on Broadband</b><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/cheap-internet-options.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Find a Cheap Internet Plan</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/affordable-connectivity-program-ending.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Time Runs Out on Federal Broadband Program</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://blog.aarp.org/fighting-for-you/state-digital-equity-manual" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Resource Helps States Improve Internet Access</a></span></span></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-video-title="How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6160397621001" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Missouri. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank">AARP Missouri</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/jefferson-city-mo/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); 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Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake community in southern Missouri.
“To me, it’s like not having the post office to deliver your mail,” says Harvey, 73, a retired postal operations analyst who lives near Warsaw. He wants the option to buy the sort of high-speed internet coverage most of America now takes for granted.
Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend broadband access to every state resident.
With a historic amount of funds earmarked for broadband, Missouri has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring everyone up to speed, Gov. Mike Parson (R) told the Bulletin in April. Parson has long championed broadband expansion — especially for unserved or underserved rural areas.
“If all goes well, we should close the digital divide in our state totally in five years’ time,” he says.
Missouri has allocated $261 million of its American Rescue Plan Act funding for broadband efforts. And, last year, the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program awarded the state an additional $1.7 billion — the biggest public investment of its kind in Missouri to date.
The Federal Communications Commission sets the minimum speed for fixed broadband at 100 megabits per second for downloading and 20 for uploading. The state’s broadband map, at broadbandmap.mo.gov, shows how coverage varies across Missouri.
Among states receiving the new federal funding for broadband expansion, Missouri received the third-highest amount, with Texas and California receiving the most.
The amount of funding indicates the level of work needed to make access universal, says BJ Tanksley, director of Missouri’s broadband development office.
Tanksley predicts the federal dollars will cover the remaining 200,000 unserved and underserved businesses and homes not yet funded by other sources. The southern part of the state — less populated, heavily timbered and home to the Ozark Mountains — will benefit the most.
Internet providers, including large communications companies, nonprofit electric and telephone cooperatives and municipal-owned networks, can begin applying for money this month.
Funding is scheduled to begin this fall, with work expected to be completed by the end of 2028.
Aaron Bradshaw, CEO of Tipton-based Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, compares the expansion to the spread of electric service in rural America in the 1930s and 1940s. Sparse populations and relatively low profit potential led to the creation of nonprofit electric co-ops — with the help of funding under the New Deal — to get the job done.
Founded in 1939, Co-Mo launched a communications subsidiary in 2010 to provide fiber optic internet, TV and phone service.
“We had people that lived in rural communities who would have to drive into town to the McDonald’s to download their school assignments or upload something,” Bradshaw says.
Reliable service
A University of Missouri survey and about 40 listening sessions held by the state in 2022 and 2023 show Missourians depend on the internet for daily life, from shopping and banking to entertainment and social media.
With rural health care provider offices closing, many AARP members have turned to virtual visits, which require a fast connection, says Jay Hardenbrook, advocacy director for AARP Missouri.
High-speed internet also provides an easy way to keep in touch with family and friends, Hardenbrook adds.
In his lakeside community, Harvey helped garner enough interest to attract a provider. Work laying fiber begins this month.
Once connected, Harvey’s download speed will jump from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit. In non-tech terms, that’s like flying compared to walking.
“Reliability is what we’re really after here,” he says. ■
____
Expanding broadband service to all residents is only part of Missouri’s internet challenge.
The state also plans to devote $14 million in federal Digital Equity Act funding to ensure that when Missourians do get high-speed service, they have the technology and necessary skills to fully engage in the digital world, says BJ Tanksley, head of the state broadband office.
Much of the money — which is expected to grow to $20 million in coming years—will be used for skills training, including understanding cybersecurity, setting up passwords and using the internet in general, Tanksley says.
“Some people take that for granted, but to the people that have not been living and working in this world, it can be a hurdle,” he says.
The funding also will help with device affordability, mostly through recycling and refurbishing computers for low-income users.
A 2023 University of Missouri survey of more than 7,500 Missouri households found that people were interested in digital training on a variety of topics — from finding trusted sources of information and accessing health care resources to managing and paying bills and gaining new job skills.
The state will largely work with schools, libraries and nonprofits on the effort, Tanksley says. The program is expected to launch this fall.
Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the Bulletin for 15 years.
More on Broadband
How to Find a Cheap Internet Plan
Time Runs Out on Federal Broadband Program
New Resource Helps States Improve Internet Access
This story is provided by AARP Missouri. Visit the AARP Missouri page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 06/30/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p><br>Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake community in southern Missouri.<br><br>“To me, it’s like not having the post office to deliver your mail,” says Harvey, 73, a retired postal operations analyst who lives near Warsaw. He wants the option to buy the sort of high-speed internet coverage most of America now takes for granted.<br><br>Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend broadband access to every state resident.<br><br>With a historic amount of funds earmarked for broadband, Missouri has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring everyone up to speed, Gov. Mike Parson (R) told the <i>Bulletin</i> in April. Parson has long championed broadband expansion — especially for unserved or underserved rural areas.<br><br>“If all goes well, we should close the digital divide in our state totally in five years’ time,” he says.<br><br>Missouri has allocated $261 million of its American Rescue Plan Act funding for broadband efforts. And, last year, the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program awarded the state an additional $1.7 billion — the biggest public investment of its kind in Missouri to date.<br><br>The Federal Communications Commission sets the minimum speed for fixed broadband at 100 megabits per second for downloading and 20 for uploading. The state’s broadband map, at <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://broadbandmap.mo.gov/map?zoom=6&center=-10270730%2C4574381" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">broadbandmap.mo.gov</a></span></span>, shows how coverage varies across Missouri.<br><br>Among states receiving the new federal funding for broadband expansion, Missouri received the third-highest amount, with Texas and California receiving the most.<br><br>The amount of funding indicates the level of work needed to make access universal, says BJ Tanksley, director of <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://ded.mo.gov/office-broadband-development" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Missouri’s broadband development office</a></span></span>.<br><br>Tanksley predicts the federal dollars will cover the remaining 200,000 unserved and underserved businesses and homes not yet funded by other sources. The southern part of the state — less populated, heavily timbered and home to the Ozark Mountains — will benefit the most.<br><br>Internet providers, including large communications companies, nonprofit electric and telephone cooperatives and municipal-owned networks, can begin applying for money this month.<br><br>Funding is scheduled to begin this fall, with work expected to be completed by the end of 2028.<br><br>Aaron Bradshaw, CEO of Tipton-based Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, compares the expansion to the spread of electric service in rural America in the 1930s and 1940s. Sparse populations and relatively low profit potential led to the creation of nonprofit electric co-ops — with the help of funding under the New Deal — to get the job done.<br><br>Founded in 1939, Co-Mo launched a communications subsidiary in 2010 to provide fiber optic internet, TV and phone service.</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/db/f2/405269ef4dfab3e083274cabfcc9/1140-state-pages-july-mo-promo.jpg" alt="A man sits in a chair in his home" width="1140" height="655" style="height: auto; max-width: 800px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Workers began laying fiber optic cables for broadband in Joe Harvey's lake community in July. Download speed is expected to increase from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit.</figcaption> <div class="Figure-credit">Photo by Dominick Williams</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“We had people that lived in rural communities who would have to drive into town to the McDonald’s to download their school assignments or upload something,” Bradshaw says.<br><br><b>Reliable service</b><br><br>A University of Missouri survey and about 40 listening sessions held by the state in 2022 and 2023 show Missourians depend on the internet for daily life, from shopping and banking to entertainment and social media.<br><br>With rural health care provider offices closing, many AARP members have turned to virtual visits, which require a fast connection, says Jay Hardenbrook, advocacy director for <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Missouri</a></span></span>.<br><br><br>High-speed internet also provides an easy way to keep in touch with family and friends, Hardenbrook adds.<br><br>In his lakeside community, Harvey helped garner enough interest to attract a provider. Work laying fiber begins this month.<br><br>Once connected, Harvey’s download speed will jump from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit. In non-tech terms, that’s like flying compared to walking.<br><br>“Reliability is what we’re really after here,” he says. ■<br><br><b>____</b><br> <br></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">People Need Tech Skills, Affordable Devices</h2></span></span><p><br>Expanding broadband service to all residents is only part of Missouri’s internet challenge.<br><br>The state also plans to devote $14 million in federal Digital Equity Act funding to ensure that when Missourians do get high-speed service, they have the technology and necessary skills to fully engage in the digital world, says BJ Tanksley, head of the state broadband office.<br><br>Much of the money — which is expected to grow to $20 million in coming years—will be used for skills training, including understanding cybersecurity, setting up passwords and using the internet in general, Tanksley says.<br><br>“Some people take that for granted, but to the people that have not been living and working in this world, it can be a hurdle,” he says.<br><br>The funding also will help with device affordability, mostly through recycling and refurbishing computers for low-income users.<br><br>A 2023 University of Missouri survey of more than 7,500 Missouri households found that people were interested in digital training on a variety of topics — from finding trusted sources of information and accessing health care resources to managing and paying bills and gaining new job skills.<br><br>The state will largely work with schools, libraries and nonprofits on the effort, Tanksley says. The program is expected to launch this fall.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br><br><br><b>More on Broadband</b><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/cheap-internet-options.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Find a Cheap Internet Plan</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/affordable-connectivity-program-ending.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Time Runs Out on Federal Broadband Program</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://blog.aarp.org/fighting-for-you/state-digital-equity-manual" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Resource Helps States Improve Internet Access</a></span></span></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-video-title="How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6160397621001" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Missouri. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank">AARP Missouri</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/jefferson-city-mo/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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}); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake" name="description"/> <meta content="Closing, Digital, Divide, in, Missouri" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/closing-the-digital-divide-in-missouri" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/closing-the-digital-divide-in-missouri-mo-2024-06-30.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend high-speed internet access to every"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/24b8638/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1019x655+61+0/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fd4%2Ffb%2F2609ca3c4073b77cecec074228ab%2F1140-state-pages-july-mo-inset.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend high-speed internet access to every"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/24b8638/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1019x655+61+0/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fd4%2Ffb%2F2609ca3c4073b77cecec074228ab%2F1140-state-pages-july-mo-inset.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 06/30/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p><br>Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake community in southern Missouri.<br><br>“To me, it’s like not having the post office to deliver your mail,” says Harvey, 73, a retired postal operations analyst who lives near Warsaw. He wants the option to buy the sort of high-speed internet coverage most of America now takes for granted.<br><br>Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend broadband access to every state resident.<br><br>With a historic amount of funds earmarked for broadband, Missouri has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring everyone up to speed, Gov. Mike Parson (R) told the <i>Bulletin</i> in April. Parson has long championed broadband expansion — especially for unserved or underserved rural areas.<br><br>“If all goes well, we should close the digital divide in our state totally in five years’ time,” he says.<br><br>Missouri has allocated $261 million of its American Rescue Plan Act funding for broadband efforts. And, last year, the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program awarded the state an additional $1.7 billion — the biggest public investment of its kind in Missouri to date.<br><br>The Federal Communications Commission sets the minimum speed for fixed broadband at 100 megabits per second for downloading and 20 for uploading. The state’s broadband map, at <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://broadbandmap.mo.gov/map?zoom=6&center=-10270730%2C4574381" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">broadbandmap.mo.gov</a></span></span>, shows how coverage varies across Missouri.<br><br>Among states receiving the new federal funding for broadband expansion, Missouri received the third-highest amount, with Texas and California receiving the most.<br><br>The amount of funding indicates the level of work needed to make access universal, says BJ Tanksley, director of <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://ded.mo.gov/office-broadband-development" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Missouri’s broadband development office</a></span></span>.<br><br>Tanksley predicts the federal dollars will cover the remaining 200,000 unserved and underserved businesses and homes not yet funded by other sources. The southern part of the state — less populated, heavily timbered and home to the Ozark Mountains — will benefit the most.<br><br>Internet providers, including large communications companies, nonprofit electric and telephone cooperatives and municipal-owned networks, can begin applying for money this month.<br><br>Funding is scheduled to begin this fall, with work expected to be completed by the end of 2028.<br><br>Aaron Bradshaw, CEO of Tipton-based Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, compares the expansion to the spread of electric service in rural America in the 1930s and 1940s. Sparse populations and relatively low profit potential led to the creation of nonprofit electric co-ops — with the help of funding under the New Deal — to get the job done.<br><br>Founded in 1939, Co-Mo launched a communications subsidiary in 2010 to provide fiber optic internet, TV and phone service.</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/db/f2/405269ef4dfab3e083274cabfcc9/1140-state-pages-july-mo-promo.jpg" alt="A man sits in a chair in his home" width="1140" height="655" style="height: auto; max-width: 800px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Workers began laying fiber optic cables for broadband in Joe Harvey's lake community in July. Download speed is expected to increase from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit.</figcaption> <div class="Figure-credit">Photo by Dominick Williams</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“We had people that lived in rural communities who would have to drive into town to the McDonald’s to download their school assignments or upload something,” Bradshaw says.<br><br><b>Reliable service</b><br><br>A University of Missouri survey and about 40 listening sessions held by the state in 2022 and 2023 show Missourians depend on the internet for daily life, from shopping and banking to entertainment and social media.<br><br>With rural health care provider offices closing, many AARP members have turned to virtual visits, which require a fast connection, says Jay Hardenbrook, advocacy director for <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Missouri</a></span></span>.<br><br><br>High-speed internet also provides an easy way to keep in touch with family and friends, Hardenbrook adds.<br><br>In his lakeside community, Harvey helped garner enough interest to attract a provider. Work laying fiber begins this month.<br><br>Once connected, Harvey’s download speed will jump from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit. In non-tech terms, that’s like flying compared to walking.<br><br>“Reliability is what we’re really after here,” he says. ■<br><br><b>____</b><br> <br></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">People Need Tech Skills, Affordable Devices</h2></span></span><p><br>Expanding broadband service to all residents is only part of Missouri’s internet challenge.<br><br>The state also plans to devote $14 million in federal Digital Equity Act funding to ensure that when Missourians do get high-speed service, they have the technology and necessary skills to fully engage in the digital world, says BJ Tanksley, head of the state broadband office.<br><br>Much of the money — which is expected to grow to $20 million in coming years—will be used for skills training, including understanding cybersecurity, setting up passwords and using the internet in general, Tanksley says.<br><br>“Some people take that for granted, but to the people that have not been living and working in this world, it can be a hurdle,” he says.<br><br>The funding also will help with device affordability, mostly through recycling and refurbishing computers for low-income users.<br><br>A 2023 University of Missouri survey of more than 7,500 Missouri households found that people were interested in digital training on a variety of topics — from finding trusted sources of information and accessing health care resources to managing and paying bills and gaining new job skills.<br><br>The state will largely work with schools, libraries and nonprofits on the effort, Tanksley says. The program is expected to launch this fall.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br><br><br><b>More on Broadband</b><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/cheap-internet-options.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Find a Cheap Internet Plan</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/affordable-connectivity-program-ending.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Time Runs Out on Federal Broadband Program</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://blog.aarp.org/fighting-for-you/state-digital-equity-manual" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Resource Helps States Improve Internet Access</a></span></span></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-video-title="How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6160397621001" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Missouri. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank">AARP Missouri</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/jefferson-city-mo/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242]Code Context<?php // if (!$nowrapper) (Globals::$language == 'es') ? include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer_es.html") : include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer.html"); ?>
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 06/30/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p><br>Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake community in southern Missouri.<br><br>“To me, it’s like not having the post office to deliver your mail,” says Harvey, 73, a retired postal operations analyst who lives near Warsaw. He wants the option to buy the sort of high-speed internet coverage most of America now takes for granted.<br><br>Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend broadband access to every state resident.<br><br>With a historic amount of funds earmarked for broadband, Missouri has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring everyone up to speed, Gov. Mike Parson (R) told the <i>Bulletin</i> in April. Parson has long championed broadband expansion — especially for unserved or underserved rural areas.<br><br>“If all goes well, we should close the digital divide in our state totally in five years’ time,” he says.<br><br>Missouri has allocated $261 million of its American Rescue Plan Act funding for broadband efforts. And, last year, the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program awarded the state an additional $1.7 billion — the biggest public investment of its kind in Missouri to date.<br><br>The Federal Communications Commission sets the minimum speed for fixed broadband at 100 megabits per second for downloading and 20 for uploading. The state’s broadband map, at <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://broadbandmap.mo.gov/map?zoom=6&center=-10270730%2C4574381" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">broadbandmap.mo.gov</a></span></span>, shows how coverage varies across Missouri.<br><br>Among states receiving the new federal funding for broadband expansion, Missouri received the third-highest amount, with Texas and California receiving the most.<br><br>The amount of funding indicates the level of work needed to make access universal, says BJ Tanksley, director of <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://ded.mo.gov/office-broadband-development" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Missouri’s broadband development office</a></span></span>.<br><br>Tanksley predicts the federal dollars will cover the remaining 200,000 unserved and underserved businesses and homes not yet funded by other sources. The southern part of the state — less populated, heavily timbered and home to the Ozark Mountains — will benefit the most.<br><br>Internet providers, including large communications companies, nonprofit electric and telephone cooperatives and municipal-owned networks, can begin applying for money this month.<br><br>Funding is scheduled to begin this fall, with work expected to be completed by the end of 2028.<br><br>Aaron Bradshaw, CEO of Tipton-based Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, compares the expansion to the spread of electric service in rural America in the 1930s and 1940s. Sparse populations and relatively low profit potential led to the creation of nonprofit electric co-ops — with the help of funding under the New Deal — to get the job done.<br><br>Founded in 1939, Co-Mo launched a communications subsidiary in 2010 to provide fiber optic internet, TV and phone service.</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/db/f2/405269ef4dfab3e083274cabfcc9/1140-state-pages-july-mo-promo.jpg" alt="A man sits in a chair in his home" width="1140" height="655" style="height: auto; max-width: 800px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Workers began laying fiber optic cables for broadband in Joe Harvey's lake community in July. Download speed is expected to increase from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit.</figcaption> <div class="Figure-credit">Photo by Dominick Williams</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“We had people that lived in rural communities who would have to drive into town to the McDonald’s to download their school assignments or upload something,” Bradshaw says.<br><br><b>Reliable service</b><br><br>A University of Missouri survey and about 40 listening sessions held by the state in 2022 and 2023 show Missourians depend on the internet for daily life, from shopping and banking to entertainment and social media.<br><br>With rural health care provider offices closing, many AARP members have turned to virtual visits, which require a fast connection, says Jay Hardenbrook, advocacy director for <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Missouri</a></span></span>.<br><br><br>High-speed internet also provides an easy way to keep in touch with family and friends, Hardenbrook adds.<br><br>In his lakeside community, Harvey helped garner enough interest to attract a provider. Work laying fiber begins this month.<br><br>Once connected, Harvey’s download speed will jump from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit. In non-tech terms, that’s like flying compared to walking.<br><br>“Reliability is what we’re really after here,” he says. ■<br><br><b>____</b><br> <br></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">People Need Tech Skills, Affordable Devices</h2></span></span><p><br>Expanding broadband service to all residents is only part of Missouri’s internet challenge.<br><br>The state also plans to devote $14 million in federal Digital Equity Act funding to ensure that when Missourians do get high-speed service, they have the technology and necessary skills to fully engage in the digital world, says BJ Tanksley, head of the state broadband office.<br><br>Much of the money — which is expected to grow to $20 million in coming years—will be used for skills training, including understanding cybersecurity, setting up passwords and using the internet in general, Tanksley says.<br><br>“Some people take that for granted, but to the people that have not been living and working in this world, it can be a hurdle,” he says.<br><br>The funding also will help with device affordability, mostly through recycling and refurbishing computers for low-income users.<br><br>A 2023 University of Missouri survey of more than 7,500 Missouri households found that people were interested in digital training on a variety of topics — from finding trusted sources of information and accessing health care resources to managing and paying bills and gaining new job skills.<br><br>The state will largely work with schools, libraries and nonprofits on the effort, Tanksley says. The program is expected to launch this fall.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br><br><br><b>More on Broadband</b><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/cheap-internet-options.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Find a Cheap Internet Plan</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/affordable-connectivity-program-ending.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Time Runs Out on Federal Broadband Program</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://blog.aarp.org/fighting-for-you/state-digital-equity-manual" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Resource Helps States Improve Internet Access</a></span></span></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-video-title="How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6160397621001" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Missouri. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank">AARP Missouri</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/jefferson-city-mo/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Missouri Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Missouri Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Missouri</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:MOAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">MOAARP@aarp.org </a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Missouri</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/contact-aarp-missouri-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-JEFFERSONCITY-MO" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmissouri" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpmontana/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake" name="description"/> <meta content="Closing, Digital, Divide, in, Missouri" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/closing-the-digital-divide-in-missouri" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/closing-the-digital-divide-in-missouri-mo-2024-06-30.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend high-speed internet access to every"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/24b8638/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1019x655+61+0/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fd4%2Ffb%2F2609ca3c4073b77cecec074228ab%2F1140-state-pages-july-mo-inset.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend high-speed internet access to every"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/24b8638/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1019x655+61+0/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fd4%2Ffb%2F2609ca3c4073b77cecec074228ab%2F1140-state-pages-july-mo-inset.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 06/30/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p><br>Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake community in southern Missouri.<br><br>“To me, it’s like not having the post office to deliver your mail,” says Harvey, 73, a retired postal operations analyst who lives near Warsaw. He wants the option to buy the sort of high-speed internet coverage most of America now takes for granted.<br><br>Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend broadband access to every state resident.<br><br>With a historic amount of funds earmarked for broadband, Missouri has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring everyone up to speed, Gov. Mike Parson (R) told the <i>Bulletin</i> in April. Parson has long championed broadband expansion — especially for unserved or underserved rural areas.<br><br>“If all goes well, we should close the digital divide in our state totally in five years’ time,” he says.<br><br>Missouri has allocated $261 million of its American Rescue Plan Act funding for broadband efforts. And, last year, the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program awarded the state an additional $1.7 billion — the biggest public investment of its kind in Missouri to date.<br><br>The Federal Communications Commission sets the minimum speed for fixed broadband at 100 megabits per second for downloading and 20 for uploading. The state’s broadband map, at <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://broadbandmap.mo.gov/map?zoom=6&center=-10270730%2C4574381" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">broadbandmap.mo.gov</a></span></span>, shows how coverage varies across Missouri.<br><br>Among states receiving the new federal funding for broadband expansion, Missouri received the third-highest amount, with Texas and California receiving the most.<br><br>The amount of funding indicates the level of work needed to make access universal, says BJ Tanksley, director of <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://ded.mo.gov/office-broadband-development" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Missouri’s broadband development office</a></span></span>.<br><br>Tanksley predicts the federal dollars will cover the remaining 200,000 unserved and underserved businesses and homes not yet funded by other sources. The southern part of the state — less populated, heavily timbered and home to the Ozark Mountains — will benefit the most.<br><br>Internet providers, including large communications companies, nonprofit electric and telephone cooperatives and municipal-owned networks, can begin applying for money this month.<br><br>Funding is scheduled to begin this fall, with work expected to be completed by the end of 2028.<br><br>Aaron Bradshaw, CEO of Tipton-based Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, compares the expansion to the spread of electric service in rural America in the 1930s and 1940s. Sparse populations and relatively low profit potential led to the creation of nonprofit electric co-ops — with the help of funding under the New Deal — to get the job done.<br><br>Founded in 1939, Co-Mo launched a communications subsidiary in 2010 to provide fiber optic internet, TV and phone service.</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/db/f2/405269ef4dfab3e083274cabfcc9/1140-state-pages-july-mo-promo.jpg" alt="A man sits in a chair in his home" width="1140" height="655" style="height: auto; max-width: 800px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Workers began laying fiber optic cables for broadband in Joe Harvey's lake community in July. Download speed is expected to increase from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit.</figcaption> <div class="Figure-credit">Photo by Dominick Williams</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“We had people that lived in rural communities who would have to drive into town to the McDonald’s to download their school assignments or upload something,” Bradshaw says.<br><br><b>Reliable service</b><br><br>A University of Missouri survey and about 40 listening sessions held by the state in 2022 and 2023 show Missourians depend on the internet for daily life, from shopping and banking to entertainment and social media.<br><br>With rural health care provider offices closing, many AARP members have turned to virtual visits, which require a fast connection, says Jay Hardenbrook, advocacy director for <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Missouri</a></span></span>.<br><br><br>High-speed internet also provides an easy way to keep in touch with family and friends, Hardenbrook adds.<br><br>In his lakeside community, Harvey helped garner enough interest to attract a provider. Work laying fiber begins this month.<br><br>Once connected, Harvey’s download speed will jump from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit. In non-tech terms, that’s like flying compared to walking.<br><br>“Reliability is what we’re really after here,” he says. ■<br><br><b>____</b><br> <br></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">People Need Tech Skills, Affordable Devices</h2></span></span><p><br>Expanding broadband service to all residents is only part of Missouri’s internet challenge.<br><br>The state also plans to devote $14 million in federal Digital Equity Act funding to ensure that when Missourians do get high-speed service, they have the technology and necessary skills to fully engage in the digital world, says BJ Tanksley, head of the state broadband office.<br><br>Much of the money — which is expected to grow to $20 million in coming years—will be used for skills training, including understanding cybersecurity, setting up passwords and using the internet in general, Tanksley says.<br><br>“Some people take that for granted, but to the people that have not been living and working in this world, it can be a hurdle,” he says.<br><br>The funding also will help with device affordability, mostly through recycling and refurbishing computers for low-income users.<br><br>A 2023 University of Missouri survey of more than 7,500 Missouri households found that people were interested in digital training on a variety of topics — from finding trusted sources of information and accessing health care resources to managing and paying bills and gaining new job skills.<br><br>The state will largely work with schools, libraries and nonprofits on the effort, Tanksley says. The program is expected to launch this fall.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br><br><br><b>More on Broadband</b><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/cheap-internet-options.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Find a Cheap Internet Plan</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/affordable-connectivity-program-ending.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Time Runs Out on Federal Broadband Program</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://blog.aarp.org/fighting-for-you/state-digital-equity-manual" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Resource Helps States Improve Internet Access</a></span></span></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-video-title="How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6160397621001" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Missouri. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank">AARP Missouri</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/jefferson-city-mo/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Missouri Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Missouri Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Missouri</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:MOAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">MOAARP@aarp.org </a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Missouri</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/contact-aarp-missouri-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-JEFFERSONCITY-MO" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmissouri" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpmontana/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); 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Warning (2): include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html) [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 06/30/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p><br>Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake community in southern Missouri.<br><br>“To me, it’s like not having the post office to deliver your mail,” says Harvey, 73, a retired postal operations analyst who lives near Warsaw. He wants the option to buy the sort of high-speed internet coverage most of America now takes for granted.<br><br>Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend broadband access to every state resident.<br><br>With a historic amount of funds earmarked for broadband, Missouri has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring everyone up to speed, Gov. Mike Parson (R) told the <i>Bulletin</i> in April. Parson has long championed broadband expansion — especially for unserved or underserved rural areas.<br><br>“If all goes well, we should close the digital divide in our state totally in five years’ time,” he says.<br><br>Missouri has allocated $261 million of its American Rescue Plan Act funding for broadband efforts. And, last year, the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program awarded the state an additional $1.7 billion — the biggest public investment of its kind in Missouri to date.<br><br>The Federal Communications Commission sets the minimum speed for fixed broadband at 100 megabits per second for downloading and 20 for uploading. The state’s broadband map, at <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://broadbandmap.mo.gov/map?zoom=6&center=-10270730%2C4574381" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">broadbandmap.mo.gov</a></span></span>, shows how coverage varies across Missouri.<br><br>Among states receiving the new federal funding for broadband expansion, Missouri received the third-highest amount, with Texas and California receiving the most.<br><br>The amount of funding indicates the level of work needed to make access universal, says BJ Tanksley, director of <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://ded.mo.gov/office-broadband-development" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Missouri’s broadband development office</a></span></span>.<br><br>Tanksley predicts the federal dollars will cover the remaining 200,000 unserved and underserved businesses and homes not yet funded by other sources. The southern part of the state — less populated, heavily timbered and home to the Ozark Mountains — will benefit the most.<br><br>Internet providers, including large communications companies, nonprofit electric and telephone cooperatives and municipal-owned networks, can begin applying for money this month.<br><br>Funding is scheduled to begin this fall, with work expected to be completed by the end of 2028.<br><br>Aaron Bradshaw, CEO of Tipton-based Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, compares the expansion to the spread of electric service in rural America in the 1930s and 1940s. Sparse populations and relatively low profit potential led to the creation of nonprofit electric co-ops — with the help of funding under the New Deal — to get the job done.<br><br>Founded in 1939, Co-Mo launched a communications subsidiary in 2010 to provide fiber optic internet, TV and phone service.</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/db/f2/405269ef4dfab3e083274cabfcc9/1140-state-pages-july-mo-promo.jpg" alt="A man sits in a chair in his home" width="1140" height="655" style="height: auto; max-width: 800px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Workers began laying fiber optic cables for broadband in Joe Harvey's lake community in July. Download speed is expected to increase from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit.</figcaption> <div class="Figure-credit">Photo by Dominick Williams</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“We had people that lived in rural communities who would have to drive into town to the McDonald’s to download their school assignments or upload something,” Bradshaw says.<br><br><b>Reliable service</b><br><br>A University of Missouri survey and about 40 listening sessions held by the state in 2022 and 2023 show Missourians depend on the internet for daily life, from shopping and banking to entertainment and social media.<br><br>With rural health care provider offices closing, many AARP members have turned to virtual visits, which require a fast connection, says Jay Hardenbrook, advocacy director for <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Missouri</a></span></span>.<br><br><br>High-speed internet also provides an easy way to keep in touch with family and friends, Hardenbrook adds.<br><br>In his lakeside community, Harvey helped garner enough interest to attract a provider. Work laying fiber begins this month.<br><br>Once connected, Harvey’s download speed will jump from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit. In non-tech terms, that’s like flying compared to walking.<br><br>“Reliability is what we’re really after here,” he says. ■<br><br><b>____</b><br> <br></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">People Need Tech Skills, Affordable Devices</h2></span></span><p><br>Expanding broadband service to all residents is only part of Missouri’s internet challenge.<br><br>The state also plans to devote $14 million in federal Digital Equity Act funding to ensure that when Missourians do get high-speed service, they have the technology and necessary skills to fully engage in the digital world, says BJ Tanksley, head of the state broadband office.<br><br>Much of the money — which is expected to grow to $20 million in coming years—will be used for skills training, including understanding cybersecurity, setting up passwords and using the internet in general, Tanksley says.<br><br>“Some people take that for granted, but to the people that have not been living and working in this world, it can be a hurdle,” he says.<br><br>The funding also will help with device affordability, mostly through recycling and refurbishing computers for low-income users.<br><br>A 2023 University of Missouri survey of more than 7,500 Missouri households found that people were interested in digital training on a variety of topics — from finding trusted sources of information and accessing health care resources to managing and paying bills and gaining new job skills.<br><br>The state will largely work with schools, libraries and nonprofits on the effort, Tanksley says. The program is expected to launch this fall.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br><br><br><b>More on Broadband</b><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/cheap-internet-options.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Find a Cheap Internet Plan</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/affordable-connectivity-program-ending.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Time Runs Out on Federal Broadband Program</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://blog.aarp.org/fighting-for-you/state-digital-equity-manual" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Resource Helps States Improve Internet Access</a></span></span></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-video-title="How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6160397621001" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Missouri. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank">AARP Missouri</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/jefferson-city-mo/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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--primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 06/30/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p><br>Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake community in southern Missouri.<br><br>“To me, it’s like not having the post office to deliver your mail,” says Harvey, 73, a retired postal operations analyst who lives near Warsaw. He wants the option to buy the sort of high-speed internet coverage most of America now takes for granted.<br><br>Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend broadband access to every state resident.<br><br>With a historic amount of funds earmarked for broadband, Missouri has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring everyone up to speed, Gov. Mike Parson (R) told the <i>Bulletin</i> in April. Parson has long championed broadband expansion — especially for unserved or underserved rural areas.<br><br>“If all goes well, we should close the digital divide in our state totally in five years’ time,” he says.<br><br>Missouri has allocated $261 million of its American Rescue Plan Act funding for broadband efforts. And, last year, the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program awarded the state an additional $1.7 billion — the biggest public investment of its kind in Missouri to date.<br><br>The Federal Communications Commission sets the minimum speed for fixed broadband at 100 megabits per second for downloading and 20 for uploading. The state’s broadband map, at <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://broadbandmap.mo.gov/map?zoom=6&center=-10270730%2C4574381" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">broadbandmap.mo.gov</a></span></span>, shows how coverage varies across Missouri.<br><br>Among states receiving the new federal funding for broadband expansion, Missouri received the third-highest amount, with Texas and California receiving the most.<br><br>The amount of funding indicates the level of work needed to make access universal, says BJ Tanksley, director of <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://ded.mo.gov/office-broadband-development" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Missouri’s broadband development office</a></span></span>.<br><br>Tanksley predicts the federal dollars will cover the remaining 200,000 unserved and underserved businesses and homes not yet funded by other sources. The southern part of the state — less populated, heavily timbered and home to the Ozark Mountains — will benefit the most.<br><br>Internet providers, including large communications companies, nonprofit electric and telephone cooperatives and municipal-owned networks, can begin applying for money this month.<br><br>Funding is scheduled to begin this fall, with work expected to be completed by the end of 2028.<br><br>Aaron Bradshaw, CEO of Tipton-based Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, compares the expansion to the spread of electric service in rural America in the 1930s and 1940s. Sparse populations and relatively low profit potential led to the creation of nonprofit electric co-ops — with the help of funding under the New Deal — to get the job done.<br><br>Founded in 1939, Co-Mo launched a communications subsidiary in 2010 to provide fiber optic internet, TV and phone service.</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/db/f2/405269ef4dfab3e083274cabfcc9/1140-state-pages-july-mo-promo.jpg" alt="A man sits in a chair in his home" width="1140" height="655" style="height: auto; max-width: 800px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Workers began laying fiber optic cables for broadband in Joe Harvey's lake community in July. Download speed is expected to increase from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit.</figcaption> <div class="Figure-credit">Photo by Dominick Williams</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“We had people that lived in rural communities who would have to drive into town to the McDonald’s to download their school assignments or upload something,” Bradshaw says.<br><br><b>Reliable service</b><br><br>A University of Missouri survey and about 40 listening sessions held by the state in 2022 and 2023 show Missourians depend on the internet for daily life, from shopping and banking to entertainment and social media.<br><br>With rural health care provider offices closing, many AARP members have turned to virtual visits, which require a fast connection, says Jay Hardenbrook, advocacy director for <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Missouri</a></span></span>.<br><br><br>High-speed internet also provides an easy way to keep in touch with family and friends, Hardenbrook adds.<br><br>In his lakeside community, Harvey helped garner enough interest to attract a provider. Work laying fiber begins this month.<br><br>Once connected, Harvey’s download speed will jump from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit. In non-tech terms, that’s like flying compared to walking.<br><br>“Reliability is what we’re really after here,” he says. ■<br><br><b>____</b><br> <br></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">People Need Tech Skills, Affordable Devices</h2></span></span><p><br>Expanding broadband service to all residents is only part of Missouri’s internet challenge.<br><br>The state also plans to devote $14 million in federal Digital Equity Act funding to ensure that when Missourians do get high-speed service, they have the technology and necessary skills to fully engage in the digital world, says BJ Tanksley, head of the state broadband office.<br><br>Much of the money — which is expected to grow to $20 million in coming years—will be used for skills training, including understanding cybersecurity, setting up passwords and using the internet in general, Tanksley says.<br><br>“Some people take that for granted, but to the people that have not been living and working in this world, it can be a hurdle,” he says.<br><br>The funding also will help with device affordability, mostly through recycling and refurbishing computers for low-income users.<br><br>A 2023 University of Missouri survey of more than 7,500 Missouri households found that people were interested in digital training on a variety of topics — from finding trusted sources of information and accessing health care resources to managing and paying bills and gaining new job skills.<br><br>The state will largely work with schools, libraries and nonprofits on the effort, Tanksley says. The program is expected to launch this fall.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br><br><br><b>More on Broadband</b><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/cheap-internet-options.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Find a Cheap Internet Plan</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/affordable-connectivity-program-ending.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Time Runs Out on Federal Broadband Program</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://blog.aarp.org/fighting-for-you/state-digital-equity-manual" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Resource Helps States Improve Internet Access</a></span></span></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-video-title="How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6160397621001" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Missouri. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank">AARP Missouri</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/jefferson-city-mo/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 06/30/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p><br>Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake community in southern Missouri.<br><br>“To me, it’s like not having the post office to deliver your mail,” says Harvey, 73, a retired postal operations analyst who lives near Warsaw. He wants the option to buy the sort of high-speed internet coverage most of America now takes for granted.<br><br>Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend broadband access to every state resident.<br><br>With a historic amount of funds earmarked for broadband, Missouri has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring everyone up to speed, Gov. Mike Parson (R) told the <i>Bulletin</i> in April. Parson has long championed broadband expansion — especially for unserved or underserved rural areas.<br><br>“If all goes well, we should close the digital divide in our state totally in five years’ time,” he says.<br><br>Missouri has allocated $261 million of its American Rescue Plan Act funding for broadband efforts. And, last year, the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program awarded the state an additional $1.7 billion — the biggest public investment of its kind in Missouri to date.<br><br>The Federal Communications Commission sets the minimum speed for fixed broadband at 100 megabits per second for downloading and 20 for uploading. The state’s broadband map, at <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://broadbandmap.mo.gov/map?zoom=6&center=-10270730%2C4574381" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">broadbandmap.mo.gov</a></span></span>, shows how coverage varies across Missouri.<br><br>Among states receiving the new federal funding for broadband expansion, Missouri received the third-highest amount, with Texas and California receiving the most.<br><br>The amount of funding indicates the level of work needed to make access universal, says BJ Tanksley, director of <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://ded.mo.gov/office-broadband-development" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Missouri’s broadband development office</a></span></span>.<br><br>Tanksley predicts the federal dollars will cover the remaining 200,000 unserved and underserved businesses and homes not yet funded by other sources. The southern part of the state — less populated, heavily timbered and home to the Ozark Mountains — will benefit the most.<br><br>Internet providers, including large communications companies, nonprofit electric and telephone cooperatives and municipal-owned networks, can begin applying for money this month.<br><br>Funding is scheduled to begin this fall, with work expected to be completed by the end of 2028.<br><br>Aaron Bradshaw, CEO of Tipton-based Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, compares the expansion to the spread of electric service in rural America in the 1930s and 1940s. Sparse populations and relatively low profit potential led to the creation of nonprofit electric co-ops — with the help of funding under the New Deal — to get the job done.<br><br>Founded in 1939, Co-Mo launched a communications subsidiary in 2010 to provide fiber optic internet, TV and phone service.</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/db/f2/405269ef4dfab3e083274cabfcc9/1140-state-pages-july-mo-promo.jpg" alt="A man sits in a chair in his home" width="1140" height="655" style="height: auto; max-width: 800px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Workers began laying fiber optic cables for broadband in Joe Harvey's lake community in July. Download speed is expected to increase from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit.</figcaption> <div class="Figure-credit">Photo by Dominick Williams</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“We had people that lived in rural communities who would have to drive into town to the McDonald’s to download their school assignments or upload something,” Bradshaw says.<br><br><b>Reliable service</b><br><br>A University of Missouri survey and about 40 listening sessions held by the state in 2022 and 2023 show Missourians depend on the internet for daily life, from shopping and banking to entertainment and social media.<br><br>With rural health care provider offices closing, many AARP members have turned to virtual visits, which require a fast connection, says Jay Hardenbrook, advocacy director for <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Missouri</a></span></span>.<br><br><br>High-speed internet also provides an easy way to keep in touch with family and friends, Hardenbrook adds.<br><br>In his lakeside community, Harvey helped garner enough interest to attract a provider. Work laying fiber begins this month.<br><br>Once connected, Harvey’s download speed will jump from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit. In non-tech terms, that’s like flying compared to walking.<br><br>“Reliability is what we’re really after here,” he says. ■<br><br><b>____</b><br> <br></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">People Need Tech Skills, Affordable Devices</h2></span></span><p><br>Expanding broadband service to all residents is only part of Missouri’s internet challenge.<br><br>The state also plans to devote $14 million in federal Digital Equity Act funding to ensure that when Missourians do get high-speed service, they have the technology and necessary skills to fully engage in the digital world, says BJ Tanksley, head of the state broadband office.<br><br>Much of the money — which is expected to grow to $20 million in coming years—will be used for skills training, including understanding cybersecurity, setting up passwords and using the internet in general, Tanksley says.<br><br>“Some people take that for granted, but to the people that have not been living and working in this world, it can be a hurdle,” he says.<br><br>The funding also will help with device affordability, mostly through recycling and refurbishing computers for low-income users.<br><br>A 2023 University of Missouri survey of more than 7,500 Missouri households found that people were interested in digital training on a variety of topics — from finding trusted sources of information and accessing health care resources to managing and paying bills and gaining new job skills.<br><br>The state will largely work with schools, libraries and nonprofits on the effort, Tanksley says. The program is expected to launch this fall.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br><br><br><b>More on Broadband</b><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/cheap-internet-options.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Find a Cheap Internet Plan</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/affordable-connectivity-program-ending.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Time Runs Out on Federal Broadband Program</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://blog.aarp.org/fighting-for-you/state-digital-equity-manual" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Resource Helps States Improve Internet Access</a></span></span></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-video-title="How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6160397621001" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Missouri. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank">AARP Missouri</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/jefferson-city-mo/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Missouri Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Missouri Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Missouri</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:MOAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">MOAARP@aarp.org </a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Missouri</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/contact-aarp-missouri-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-JEFFERSONCITY-MO" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmissouri" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpmontana/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake" name="description"/> <meta content="Closing, Digital, Divide, in, Missouri" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/closing-the-digital-divide-in-missouri" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/closing-the-digital-divide-in-missouri-mo-2024-06-30.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend high-speed internet access to every"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/24b8638/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1019x655+61+0/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fd4%2Ffb%2F2609ca3c4073b77cecec074228ab%2F1140-state-pages-july-mo-inset.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend high-speed internet access to every"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/24b8638/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1019x655+61+0/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fd4%2Ffb%2F2609ca3c4073b77cecec074228ab%2F1140-state-pages-july-mo-inset.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 06/30/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p><br>Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake community in southern Missouri.<br><br>“To me, it’s like not having the post office to deliver your mail,” says Harvey, 73, a retired postal operations analyst who lives near Warsaw. He wants the option to buy the sort of high-speed internet coverage most of America now takes for granted.<br><br>Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend broadband access to every state resident.<br><br>With a historic amount of funds earmarked for broadband, Missouri has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring everyone up to speed, Gov. Mike Parson (R) told the <i>Bulletin</i> in April. Parson has long championed broadband expansion — especially for unserved or underserved rural areas.<br><br>“If all goes well, we should close the digital divide in our state totally in five years’ time,” he says.<br><br>Missouri has allocated $261 million of its American Rescue Plan Act funding for broadband efforts. And, last year, the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program awarded the state an additional $1.7 billion — the biggest public investment of its kind in Missouri to date.<br><br>The Federal Communications Commission sets the minimum speed for fixed broadband at 100 megabits per second for downloading and 20 for uploading. The state’s broadband map, at <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://broadbandmap.mo.gov/map?zoom=6&center=-10270730%2C4574381" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">broadbandmap.mo.gov</a></span></span>, shows how coverage varies across Missouri.<br><br>Among states receiving the new federal funding for broadband expansion, Missouri received the third-highest amount, with Texas and California receiving the most.<br><br>The amount of funding indicates the level of work needed to make access universal, says BJ Tanksley, director of <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://ded.mo.gov/office-broadband-development" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Missouri’s broadband development office</a></span></span>.<br><br>Tanksley predicts the federal dollars will cover the remaining 200,000 unserved and underserved businesses and homes not yet funded by other sources. The southern part of the state — less populated, heavily timbered and home to the Ozark Mountains — will benefit the most.<br><br>Internet providers, including large communications companies, nonprofit electric and telephone cooperatives and municipal-owned networks, can begin applying for money this month.<br><br>Funding is scheduled to begin this fall, with work expected to be completed by the end of 2028.<br><br>Aaron Bradshaw, CEO of Tipton-based Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, compares the expansion to the spread of electric service in rural America in the 1930s and 1940s. Sparse populations and relatively low profit potential led to the creation of nonprofit electric co-ops — with the help of funding under the New Deal — to get the job done.<br><br>Founded in 1939, Co-Mo launched a communications subsidiary in 2010 to provide fiber optic internet, TV and phone service.</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/db/f2/405269ef4dfab3e083274cabfcc9/1140-state-pages-july-mo-promo.jpg" alt="A man sits in a chair in his home" width="1140" height="655" style="height: auto; max-width: 800px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Workers began laying fiber optic cables for broadband in Joe Harvey's lake community in July. Download speed is expected to increase from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit.</figcaption> <div class="Figure-credit">Photo by Dominick Williams</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“We had people that lived in rural communities who would have to drive into town to the McDonald’s to download their school assignments or upload something,” Bradshaw says.<br><br><b>Reliable service</b><br><br>A University of Missouri survey and about 40 listening sessions held by the state in 2022 and 2023 show Missourians depend on the internet for daily life, from shopping and banking to entertainment and social media.<br><br>With rural health care provider offices closing, many AARP members have turned to virtual visits, which require a fast connection, says Jay Hardenbrook, advocacy director for <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Missouri</a></span></span>.<br><br><br>High-speed internet also provides an easy way to keep in touch with family and friends, Hardenbrook adds.<br><br>In his lakeside community, Harvey helped garner enough interest to attract a provider. Work laying fiber begins this month.<br><br>Once connected, Harvey’s download speed will jump from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit. In non-tech terms, that’s like flying compared to walking.<br><br>“Reliability is what we’re really after here,” he says. ■<br><br><b>____</b><br> <br></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">People Need Tech Skills, Affordable Devices</h2></span></span><p><br>Expanding broadband service to all residents is only part of Missouri’s internet challenge.<br><br>The state also plans to devote $14 million in federal Digital Equity Act funding to ensure that when Missourians do get high-speed service, they have the technology and necessary skills to fully engage in the digital world, says BJ Tanksley, head of the state broadband office.<br><br>Much of the money — which is expected to grow to $20 million in coming years—will be used for skills training, including understanding cybersecurity, setting up passwords and using the internet in general, Tanksley says.<br><br>“Some people take that for granted, but to the people that have not been living and working in this world, it can be a hurdle,” he says.<br><br>The funding also will help with device affordability, mostly through recycling and refurbishing computers for low-income users.<br><br>A 2023 University of Missouri survey of more than 7,500 Missouri households found that people were interested in digital training on a variety of topics — from finding trusted sources of information and accessing health care resources to managing and paying bills and gaining new job skills.<br><br>The state will largely work with schools, libraries and nonprofits on the effort, Tanksley says. The program is expected to launch this fall.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br><br><br><b>More on Broadband</b><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/cheap-internet-options.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Find a Cheap Internet Plan</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/affordable-connectivity-program-ending.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Time Runs Out on Federal Broadband Program</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://blog.aarp.org/fighting-for-you/state-digital-equity-manual" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Resource Helps States Improve Internet Access</a></span></span></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-video-title="How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6160397621001" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Missouri. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank">AARP Missouri</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/jefferson-city-mo/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . 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Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Missouri Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Missouri Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Missouri</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:MOAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">MOAARP@aarp.org </a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Missouri</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/contact-aarp-missouri-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-JEFFERSONCITY-MO" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmissouri" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpmontana/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 06/30/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p><br>Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake community in southern Missouri.<br><br>“To me, it’s like not having the post office to deliver your mail,” says Harvey, 73, a retired postal operations analyst who lives near Warsaw. He wants the option to buy the sort of high-speed internet coverage most of America now takes for granted.<br><br>Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend broadband access to every state resident.<br><br>With a historic amount of funds earmarked for broadband, Missouri has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring everyone up to speed, Gov. Mike Parson (R) told the <i>Bulletin</i> in April. Parson has long championed broadband expansion — especially for unserved or underserved rural areas.<br><br>“If all goes well, we should close the digital divide in our state totally in five years’ time,” he says.<br><br>Missouri has allocated $261 million of its American Rescue Plan Act funding for broadband efforts. And, last year, the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program awarded the state an additional $1.7 billion — the biggest public investment of its kind in Missouri to date.<br><br>The Federal Communications Commission sets the minimum speed for fixed broadband at 100 megabits per second for downloading and 20 for uploading. The state’s broadband map, at <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://broadbandmap.mo.gov/map?zoom=6&center=-10270730%2C4574381" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">broadbandmap.mo.gov</a></span></span>, shows how coverage varies across Missouri.<br><br>Among states receiving the new federal funding for broadband expansion, Missouri received the third-highest amount, with Texas and California receiving the most.<br><br>The amount of funding indicates the level of work needed to make access universal, says BJ Tanksley, director of <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://ded.mo.gov/office-broadband-development" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Missouri’s broadband development office</a></span></span>.<br><br>Tanksley predicts the federal dollars will cover the remaining 200,000 unserved and underserved businesses and homes not yet funded by other sources. The southern part of the state — less populated, heavily timbered and home to the Ozark Mountains — will benefit the most.<br><br>Internet providers, including large communications companies, nonprofit electric and telephone cooperatives and municipal-owned networks, can begin applying for money this month.<br><br>Funding is scheduled to begin this fall, with work expected to be completed by the end of 2028.<br><br>Aaron Bradshaw, CEO of Tipton-based Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, compares the expansion to the spread of electric service in rural America in the 1930s and 1940s. Sparse populations and relatively low profit potential led to the creation of nonprofit electric co-ops — with the help of funding under the New Deal — to get the job done.<br><br>Founded in 1939, Co-Mo launched a communications subsidiary in 2010 to provide fiber optic internet, TV and phone service.</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/db/f2/405269ef4dfab3e083274cabfcc9/1140-state-pages-july-mo-promo.jpg" alt="A man sits in a chair in his home" width="1140" height="655" style="height: auto; max-width: 800px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Workers began laying fiber optic cables for broadband in Joe Harvey's lake community in July. Download speed is expected to increase from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit.</figcaption> <div class="Figure-credit">Photo by Dominick Williams</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“We had people that lived in rural communities who would have to drive into town to the McDonald’s to download their school assignments or upload something,” Bradshaw says.<br><br><b>Reliable service</b><br><br>A University of Missouri survey and about 40 listening sessions held by the state in 2022 and 2023 show Missourians depend on the internet for daily life, from shopping and banking to entertainment and social media.<br><br>With rural health care provider offices closing, many AARP members have turned to virtual visits, which require a fast connection, says Jay Hardenbrook, advocacy director for <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Missouri</a></span></span>.<br><br><br>High-speed internet also provides an easy way to keep in touch with family and friends, Hardenbrook adds.<br><br>In his lakeside community, Harvey helped garner enough interest to attract a provider. Work laying fiber begins this month.<br><br>Once connected, Harvey’s download speed will jump from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit. In non-tech terms, that’s like flying compared to walking.<br><br>“Reliability is what we’re really after here,” he says. ■<br><br><b>____</b><br> <br></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">People Need Tech Skills, Affordable Devices</h2></span></span><p><br>Expanding broadband service to all residents is only part of Missouri’s internet challenge.<br><br>The state also plans to devote $14 million in federal Digital Equity Act funding to ensure that when Missourians do get high-speed service, they have the technology and necessary skills to fully engage in the digital world, says BJ Tanksley, head of the state broadband office.<br><br>Much of the money — which is expected to grow to $20 million in coming years—will be used for skills training, including understanding cybersecurity, setting up passwords and using the internet in general, Tanksley says.<br><br>“Some people take that for granted, but to the people that have not been living and working in this world, it can be a hurdle,” he says.<br><br>The funding also will help with device affordability, mostly through recycling and refurbishing computers for low-income users.<br><br>A 2023 University of Missouri survey of more than 7,500 Missouri households found that people were interested in digital training on a variety of topics — from finding trusted sources of information and accessing health care resources to managing and paying bills and gaining new job skills.<br><br>The state will largely work with schools, libraries and nonprofits on the effort, Tanksley says. The program is expected to launch this fall.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br><br><br><b>More on Broadband</b><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/cheap-internet-options.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Find a Cheap Internet Plan</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/affordable-connectivity-program-ending.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Time Runs Out on Federal Broadband Program</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://blog.aarp.org/fighting-for-you/state-digital-equity-manual" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Resource Helps States Improve Internet Access</a></span></span></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-video-title="How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6160397621001" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Missouri. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank">AARP Missouri</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/jefferson-city-mo/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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--primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 06/30/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p><br>Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake community in southern Missouri.<br><br>“To me, it’s like not having the post office to deliver your mail,” says Harvey, 73, a retired postal operations analyst who lives near Warsaw. He wants the option to buy the sort of high-speed internet coverage most of America now takes for granted.<br><br>Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend broadband access to every state resident.<br><br>With a historic amount of funds earmarked for broadband, Missouri has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring everyone up to speed, Gov. Mike Parson (R) told the <i>Bulletin</i> in April. Parson has long championed broadband expansion — especially for unserved or underserved rural areas.<br><br>“If all goes well, we should close the digital divide in our state totally in five years’ time,” he says.<br><br>Missouri has allocated $261 million of its American Rescue Plan Act funding for broadband efforts. And, last year, the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program awarded the state an additional $1.7 billion — the biggest public investment of its kind in Missouri to date.<br><br>The Federal Communications Commission sets the minimum speed for fixed broadband at 100 megabits per second for downloading and 20 for uploading. The state’s broadband map, at <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://broadbandmap.mo.gov/map?zoom=6&center=-10270730%2C4574381" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">broadbandmap.mo.gov</a></span></span>, shows how coverage varies across Missouri.<br><br>Among states receiving the new federal funding for broadband expansion, Missouri received the third-highest amount, with Texas and California receiving the most.<br><br>The amount of funding indicates the level of work needed to make access universal, says BJ Tanksley, director of <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://ded.mo.gov/office-broadband-development" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Missouri’s broadband development office</a></span></span>.<br><br>Tanksley predicts the federal dollars will cover the remaining 200,000 unserved and underserved businesses and homes not yet funded by other sources. The southern part of the state — less populated, heavily timbered and home to the Ozark Mountains — will benefit the most.<br><br>Internet providers, including large communications companies, nonprofit electric and telephone cooperatives and municipal-owned networks, can begin applying for money this month.<br><br>Funding is scheduled to begin this fall, with work expected to be completed by the end of 2028.<br><br>Aaron Bradshaw, CEO of Tipton-based Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, compares the expansion to the spread of electric service in rural America in the 1930s and 1940s. Sparse populations and relatively low profit potential led to the creation of nonprofit electric co-ops — with the help of funding under the New Deal — to get the job done.<br><br>Founded in 1939, Co-Mo launched a communications subsidiary in 2010 to provide fiber optic internet, TV and phone service.</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/db/f2/405269ef4dfab3e083274cabfcc9/1140-state-pages-july-mo-promo.jpg" alt="A man sits in a chair in his home" width="1140" height="655" style="height: auto; max-width: 800px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Workers began laying fiber optic cables for broadband in Joe Harvey's lake community in July. Download speed is expected to increase from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit.</figcaption> <div class="Figure-credit">Photo by Dominick Williams</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“We had people that lived in rural communities who would have to drive into town to the McDonald’s to download their school assignments or upload something,” Bradshaw says.<br><br><b>Reliable service</b><br><br>A University of Missouri survey and about 40 listening sessions held by the state in 2022 and 2023 show Missourians depend on the internet for daily life, from shopping and banking to entertainment and social media.<br><br>With rural health care provider offices closing, many AARP members have turned to virtual visits, which require a fast connection, says Jay Hardenbrook, advocacy director for <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Missouri</a></span></span>.<br><br><br>High-speed internet also provides an easy way to keep in touch with family and friends, Hardenbrook adds.<br><br>In his lakeside community, Harvey helped garner enough interest to attract a provider. Work laying fiber begins this month.<br><br>Once connected, Harvey’s download speed will jump from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit. In non-tech terms, that’s like flying compared to walking.<br><br>“Reliability is what we’re really after here,” he says. ■<br><br><b>____</b><br> <br></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">People Need Tech Skills, Affordable Devices</h2></span></span><p><br>Expanding broadband service to all residents is only part of Missouri’s internet challenge.<br><br>The state also plans to devote $14 million in federal Digital Equity Act funding to ensure that when Missourians do get high-speed service, they have the technology and necessary skills to fully engage in the digital world, says BJ Tanksley, head of the state broadband office.<br><br>Much of the money — which is expected to grow to $20 million in coming years—will be used for skills training, including understanding cybersecurity, setting up passwords and using the internet in general, Tanksley says.<br><br>“Some people take that for granted, but to the people that have not been living and working in this world, it can be a hurdle,” he says.<br><br>The funding also will help with device affordability, mostly through recycling and refurbishing computers for low-income users.<br><br>A 2023 University of Missouri survey of more than 7,500 Missouri households found that people were interested in digital training on a variety of topics — from finding trusted sources of information and accessing health care resources to managing and paying bills and gaining new job skills.<br><br>The state will largely work with schools, libraries and nonprofits on the effort, Tanksley says. The program is expected to launch this fall.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br><br><br><b>More on Broadband</b><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/cheap-internet-options.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Find a Cheap Internet Plan</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/affordable-connectivity-program-ending.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Time Runs Out on Federal Broadband Program</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://blog.aarp.org/fighting-for-you/state-digital-equity-manual" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Resource Helps States Improve Internet Access</a></span></span></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-video-title="How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6160397621001" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Missouri. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank">AARP Missouri</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/jefferson-city-mo/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 06/30/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p><br>Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake community in southern Missouri.<br><br>“To me, it’s like not having the post office to deliver your mail,” says Harvey, 73, a retired postal operations analyst who lives near Warsaw. He wants the option to buy the sort of high-speed internet coverage most of America now takes for granted.<br><br>Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend broadband access to every state resident.<br><br>With a historic amount of funds earmarked for broadband, Missouri has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring everyone up to speed, Gov. Mike Parson (R) told the <i>Bulletin</i> in April. Parson has long championed broadband expansion — especially for unserved or underserved rural areas.<br><br>“If all goes well, we should close the digital divide in our state totally in five years’ time,” he says.<br><br>Missouri has allocated $261 million of its American Rescue Plan Act funding for broadband efforts. And, last year, the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program awarded the state an additional $1.7 billion — the biggest public investment of its kind in Missouri to date.<br><br>The Federal Communications Commission sets the minimum speed for fixed broadband at 100 megabits per second for downloading and 20 for uploading. The state’s broadband map, at <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://broadbandmap.mo.gov/map?zoom=6&center=-10270730%2C4574381" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">broadbandmap.mo.gov</a></span></span>, shows how coverage varies across Missouri.<br><br>Among states receiving the new federal funding for broadband expansion, Missouri received the third-highest amount, with Texas and California receiving the most.<br><br>The amount of funding indicates the level of work needed to make access universal, says BJ Tanksley, director of <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://ded.mo.gov/office-broadband-development" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Missouri’s broadband development office</a></span></span>.<br><br>Tanksley predicts the federal dollars will cover the remaining 200,000 unserved and underserved businesses and homes not yet funded by other sources. The southern part of the state — less populated, heavily timbered and home to the Ozark Mountains — will benefit the most.<br><br>Internet providers, including large communications companies, nonprofit electric and telephone cooperatives and municipal-owned networks, can begin applying for money this month.<br><br>Funding is scheduled to begin this fall, with work expected to be completed by the end of 2028.<br><br>Aaron Bradshaw, CEO of Tipton-based Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, compares the expansion to the spread of electric service in rural America in the 1930s and 1940s. Sparse populations and relatively low profit potential led to the creation of nonprofit electric co-ops — with the help of funding under the New Deal — to get the job done.<br><br>Founded in 1939, Co-Mo launched a communications subsidiary in 2010 to provide fiber optic internet, TV and phone service.</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/db/f2/405269ef4dfab3e083274cabfcc9/1140-state-pages-july-mo-promo.jpg" alt="A man sits in a chair in his home" width="1140" height="655" style="height: auto; max-width: 800px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Workers began laying fiber optic cables for broadband in Joe Harvey's lake community in July. Download speed is expected to increase from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit.</figcaption> <div class="Figure-credit">Photo by Dominick Williams</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“We had people that lived in rural communities who would have to drive into town to the McDonald’s to download their school assignments or upload something,” Bradshaw says.<br><br><b>Reliable service</b><br><br>A University of Missouri survey and about 40 listening sessions held by the state in 2022 and 2023 show Missourians depend on the internet for daily life, from shopping and banking to entertainment and social media.<br><br>With rural health care provider offices closing, many AARP members have turned to virtual visits, which require a fast connection, says Jay Hardenbrook, advocacy director for <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Missouri</a></span></span>.<br><br><br>High-speed internet also provides an easy way to keep in touch with family and friends, Hardenbrook adds.<br><br>In his lakeside community, Harvey helped garner enough interest to attract a provider. Work laying fiber begins this month.<br><br>Once connected, Harvey’s download speed will jump from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit. In non-tech terms, that’s like flying compared to walking.<br><br>“Reliability is what we’re really after here,” he says. ■<br><br><b>____</b><br> <br></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">People Need Tech Skills, Affordable Devices</h2></span></span><p><br>Expanding broadband service to all residents is only part of Missouri’s internet challenge.<br><br>The state also plans to devote $14 million in federal Digital Equity Act funding to ensure that when Missourians do get high-speed service, they have the technology and necessary skills to fully engage in the digital world, says BJ Tanksley, head of the state broadband office.<br><br>Much of the money — which is expected to grow to $20 million in coming years—will be used for skills training, including understanding cybersecurity, setting up passwords and using the internet in general, Tanksley says.<br><br>“Some people take that for granted, but to the people that have not been living and working in this world, it can be a hurdle,” he says.<br><br>The funding also will help with device affordability, mostly through recycling and refurbishing computers for low-income users.<br><br>A 2023 University of Missouri survey of more than 7,500 Missouri households found that people were interested in digital training on a variety of topics — from finding trusted sources of information and accessing health care resources to managing and paying bills and gaining new job skills.<br><br>The state will largely work with schools, libraries and nonprofits on the effort, Tanksley says. The program is expected to launch this fall.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br><br><br><b>More on Broadband</b><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/cheap-internet-options.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Find a Cheap Internet Plan</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/affordable-connectivity-program-ending.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Time Runs Out on Federal Broadband Program</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://blog.aarp.org/fighting-for-you/state-digital-equity-manual" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Resource Helps States Improve Internet Access</a></span></span></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-video-title="How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6160397621001" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Missouri. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank">AARP Missouri</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/jefferson-city-mo/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . 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'' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Missouri Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Missouri Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Missouri</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:MOAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">MOAARP@aarp.org </a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Missouri</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/contact-aarp-missouri-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-JEFFERSONCITY-MO" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmissouri" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpmontana/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake" name="description"/> <meta content="Closing, Digital, Divide, in, Missouri" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/closing-the-digital-divide-in-missouri" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/closing-the-digital-divide-in-missouri-mo-2024-06-30.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend high-speed internet access to every"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/24b8638/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1019x655+61+0/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fd4%2Ffb%2F2609ca3c4073b77cecec074228ab%2F1140-state-pages-july-mo-inset.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend high-speed internet access to every"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/24b8638/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1019x655+61+0/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fd4%2Ffb%2F2609ca3c4073b77cecec074228ab%2F1140-state-pages-july-mo-inset.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 06/30/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p><br>Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake community in southern Missouri.<br><br>“To me, it’s like not having the post office to deliver your mail,” says Harvey, 73, a retired postal operations analyst who lives near Warsaw. He wants the option to buy the sort of high-speed internet coverage most of America now takes for granted.<br><br>Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend broadband access to every state resident.<br><br>With a historic amount of funds earmarked for broadband, Missouri has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring everyone up to speed, Gov. Mike Parson (R) told the <i>Bulletin</i> in April. Parson has long championed broadband expansion — especially for unserved or underserved rural areas.<br><br>“If all goes well, we should close the digital divide in our state totally in five years’ time,” he says.<br><br>Missouri has allocated $261 million of its American Rescue Plan Act funding for broadband efforts. And, last year, the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program awarded the state an additional $1.7 billion — the biggest public investment of its kind in Missouri to date.<br><br>The Federal Communications Commission sets the minimum speed for fixed broadband at 100 megabits per second for downloading and 20 for uploading. The state’s broadband map, at <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://broadbandmap.mo.gov/map?zoom=6&center=-10270730%2C4574381" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">broadbandmap.mo.gov</a></span></span>, shows how coverage varies across Missouri.<br><br>Among states receiving the new federal funding for broadband expansion, Missouri received the third-highest amount, with Texas and California receiving the most.<br><br>The amount of funding indicates the level of work needed to make access universal, says BJ Tanksley, director of <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://ded.mo.gov/office-broadband-development" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Missouri’s broadband development office</a></span></span>.<br><br>Tanksley predicts the federal dollars will cover the remaining 200,000 unserved and underserved businesses and homes not yet funded by other sources. The southern part of the state — less populated, heavily timbered and home to the Ozark Mountains — will benefit the most.<br><br>Internet providers, including large communications companies, nonprofit electric and telephone cooperatives and municipal-owned networks, can begin applying for money this month.<br><br>Funding is scheduled to begin this fall, with work expected to be completed by the end of 2028.<br><br>Aaron Bradshaw, CEO of Tipton-based Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, compares the expansion to the spread of electric service in rural America in the 1930s and 1940s. Sparse populations and relatively low profit potential led to the creation of nonprofit electric co-ops — with the help of funding under the New Deal — to get the job done.<br><br>Founded in 1939, Co-Mo launched a communications subsidiary in 2010 to provide fiber optic internet, TV and phone service.</p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/db/f2/405269ef4dfab3e083274cabfcc9/1140-state-pages-july-mo-promo.jpg" alt="A man sits in a chair in his home" width="1140" height="655" style="height: auto; max-width: 800px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Workers began laying fiber optic cables for broadband in Joe Harvey's lake community in July. Download speed is expected to increase from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit.</figcaption> <div class="Figure-credit">Photo by Dominick Williams</div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“We had people that lived in rural communities who would have to drive into town to the McDonald’s to download their school assignments or upload something,” Bradshaw says.<br><br><b>Reliable service</b><br><br>A University of Missouri survey and about 40 listening sessions held by the state in 2022 and 2023 show Missourians depend on the internet for daily life, from shopping and banking to entertainment and social media.<br><br>With rural health care provider offices closing, many AARP members have turned to virtual visits, which require a fast connection, says Jay Hardenbrook, advocacy director for <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Missouri</a></span></span>.<br><br><br>High-speed internet also provides an easy way to keep in touch with family and friends, Hardenbrook adds.<br><br>In his lakeside community, Harvey helped garner enough interest to attract a provider. Work laying fiber begins this month.<br><br>Once connected, Harvey’s download speed will jump from 6 megabits per second to 1 gigabit. In non-tech terms, that’s like flying compared to walking.<br><br>“Reliability is what we’re really after here,” he says. ■<br><br><b>____</b><br> <br></p><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><h2 class="inline-heading">People Need Tech Skills, Affordable Devices</h2></span></span><p><br>Expanding broadband service to all residents is only part of Missouri’s internet challenge.<br><br>The state also plans to devote $14 million in federal Digital Equity Act funding to ensure that when Missourians do get high-speed service, they have the technology and necessary skills to fully engage in the digital world, says BJ Tanksley, head of the state broadband office.<br><br>Much of the money — which is expected to grow to $20 million in coming years—will be used for skills training, including understanding cybersecurity, setting up passwords and using the internet in general, Tanksley says.<br><br>“Some people take that for granted, but to the people that have not been living and working in this world, it can be a hurdle,” he says.<br><br>The funding also will help with device affordability, mostly through recycling and refurbishing computers for low-income users.<br><br>A 2023 University of Missouri survey of more than 7,500 Missouri households found that people were interested in digital training on a variety of topics — from finding trusted sources of information and accessing health care resources to managing and paying bills and gaining new job skills.<br><br>The state will largely work with schools, libraries and nonprofits on the effort, Tanksley says. The program is expected to launch this fall.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br><br><br><b>More on Broadband</b><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/cheap-internet-options.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Find a Cheap Internet Plan</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/affordable-connectivity-program-ending.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Time Runs Out on Federal Broadband Program</a></span></span><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://blog.aarp.org/fighting-for-you/state-digital-equity-manual" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Resource Helps States Improve Internet Access</a></span></span></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-video-title="How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6160397621001" data-video-id="6160397621001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Increase Your Internet Speed at Home</div> </span> </div> </div><p></p></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Missouri. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank">AARP Missouri</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/jefferson-city-mo/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029bfb5-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da8d029cdd4-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-JEFFERSONCITY-MO">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Missouri Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Missouri Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Missouri</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:MOAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">MOAARP@aarp.org </a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/missouri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Missouri</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/contact-aarp-missouri-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-JEFFERSONCITY-MO" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpmissouri" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmissouri" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpmontana/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Fed up with sluggish and unreliable internet service, Joe Harvey went door-to-door to gauge neighbors’ interest in bringing broadband to their small lake" name="description"/> <meta content="Closing, Digital, Divide, in, Missouri" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/missouri/closing-the-digital-divide-in-missouri" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/closing-the-digital-divide-in-missouri-mo-2024-06-30.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend high-speed internet access to every"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/24b8638/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1019x655+61+0/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fd4%2Ffb%2F2609ca3c4073b77cecec074228ab%2F1140-state-pages-july-mo-inset.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Closing the Digital Divide in Missouri"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Missouri is in the last leg of a major push by the government, private companies and nonprofits, including AARP, to extend high-speed internet access to every"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/24b8638/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1019x655+61+0/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fd4%2Ffb%2F2609ca3c4073b77cecec074228ab%2F1140-state-pages-july-mo-inset.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = ' :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $highlighting = '' $location = '<a href="/jefferson-city-mo/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Jefferson City, MO</a>' $no_header = false $header_title = '<a href="/jefferson-city-mo/happenings/">News Feed</a>' $header_subtitle = '' $isPR = false $navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse"> <div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div> <ul class="secondary-menu" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true"> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/jefferson-city-mo/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Online & Local Events</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/jefferson-city-mo/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li> <li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/jefferson-city-mo/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/jefferson-city-mo/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/jefferson-city-mo/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/jefferson-city-mo/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="more nosep " id="submenu-more"> <span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span> <ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu"> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/jefferson-city-mo/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/jefferson-city-mo/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/jefferson-city-mo/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/jefferson-city-mo/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li> <!-- <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/jefferson-city-mo/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/jefferson-city-mo/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/jefferson-city-mo/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li> --> </ul> </li> </ul> </nav>' $header_custom = '' $breadcrumbs = array( (int) 0 => array( 'title' => 'News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) ) $row = array( 'title' => 'Back to News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) $i = (int) 0include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118