A team of clergy, lay leaders, and community members have recently organized to learn more about why so many in Caswell are still without broadband internet access despite a flurry of activity last year that sought to expand access in Caswell. That group is now calling on residents of Caswell County to take action THIS WEEK.

They have learned, and are sharing with others, the following key points:

• In 2019, Open Broadband, a private internet company, received a $1.5 million matching grant from the state of North Carolina Department of Information Technology’s Broadband Infrastructure Office to provide broadband access to Caswell County residents.
• The company had pledged to start connecting customers by January 2020. However, not a single resident has been connected. In fact – almost no progress appears to have been made!
• Other internet companies, such as RiverStreet Networks, are in a position to provide broadband to the county, but only if the state Broadband Infrastructure Office tells Open Broadband to step out of the way and reassigns the grant $ to a company that can get the job done.

They are asking others in our congregations, health centers, communities, and businesses to join them in contacting the Director of the Broadband Infrastructure Office by FRIDAY, July 24th to urge that office to take action. They have provided the contact information as part of this SAMPLE EMAIL that will help you voice how urgent the need for broadband is here in Caswell County.