Broadband task force to draw 'blueprint' for closing digital divide

A group of 24 county officials from across the country have formed a broadband task force with the goal of creating a “blueprint” for closing the digital divide. Organized through the National Association of Counties, the task force is co-chaired by J.D. Clark, the county judge of Wise County, Texas, and Craig Rice, a member of the Montgomery County Council in Maryland. They’ll lead the group of county officials in studying methods that both rural and urban communities have used to expand broadband connectivity over the past several years. The task force follows a NACo report showing that 65% of counties use internet at sub-broadband speeds. But the coronavirus pandemic also motivated the group’s creation.