Broadband Adoption | Huntsville, Alabama

With approximately 200,000 residents, Huntsville is the second-largest city in Alabama. It houses the brainpower and imagination that fuels NASA’s space flight center and the US Army’s missile command. Research and engineering are an integral part of the City’s legacy. Long before they were known as a GIG City, residents and small businesses complained about expensive, unreliable internet connectivity. In this technology hub, broadband access is an expectation, much like access to clean water and electricity. However, today, broadband access is still unequal. Recommendations to improve broadband adoption:

• Expand free digital literacy training programs
• Enroll parents in workforce development programs
• Collect data, analyze research, and make recommendations on broadband adoption and digital literacy
• Public-private partnerships are essential for providing devices
• Connect student volunteers with teachers and parents who need assistance with virtual learning software
• Provide additional funding to the public library system for the surge in need for hotspot devices