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Broadband Gaps In Rural NC Raise Equity Concerns

State officials recently announced health guidelines for grades K-12 for in person instruction, but also caution that the reopening of school buildings could be delayed if COVID-19 cases continue to rise. KERI BROWN/WFDD

Schools across the state are planning ahead for the possibility of continued remote learning. Education leaders say the pandemic has shown how deep the digital divide is for families in rural North Carolina.

According to the most recent data from the Federal Communications Commission, about 14 percent of people in rural North Carolina don't have access to broadband, and more than 19 percent lack access to a faster speed tier.

Strother Bullins is a teacher in Stokes County. He says there are extra hurdles for these students, including traveling to a library, hotspot, or relative's house just to connect.

"And it's really important for rural kids because they see all of these things going on and they see all of these things through social media but then they don't have the connection like everybody else does," says Bullins. "It limits the possibilities, and it limits the economic possibilities out here too for the parents.”

Governor Cooper launched a task force last March to address the issue. A proposed bill is also under consideration that would allow counties to build infrastructure for broadband and lease it to private companies, among other items.

A similar measure failed to move forward last year.

For the most up-to-date information on coronavirus in North Carolina, visit our Live Updates blog here. WFDD wants to hear your stories — connect with us and let us know what you're experiencing.

*Follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news

Keri Brown is a multi-award winning reporter and host at 88.5 WFDD. She has been honored with two regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her stories about coal ash, and was named the 2015 radio reporter of the year by the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas (RTDNAC).Although she covers a variety of topics, her beats are environmental and education reporting.Keri comes to the Triad from West Virginia Public Broadcasting, where she served as the Chief Bureau Reporter for the Northern Panhandle. She produced stories for the state's Public Television and Radio programs and was honored by the West Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters Association for her feature and enterprise reporting.She also served as an adjunct instructor at Wheeling Jesuit University and Bethany College in West Virginia. She worked with the Center for Educational Technologies in Wheeling, WV, and other NASA centers across the country to develop several stories about the use of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts in the classroom.Keri's journalism career began at WTRF-TV 7 in Wheeling. She worked in several roles at the station, including the head assignment editor. She also was a field producer and assignment manager at WPGH-TV Fox 53 in Pittsburgh.Keri is a graduate of Ohio University. When she's not in the studio or working on a story, she enjoys watching college football with her family, cooking, and traveling.Keri is always looking for another great story idea, so please share them with her. You can follow her on Twitter @kerib_news.

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