Efforts to expand broadband in the rural Heartland

So I'm long overdue for a blog post. I had a bit of a vacation, but now I'm back.

A little more than a week ago, I did a story on the efforts to expand broadband internet access in rural areas. Congress approved $7.2 billion in stimulus money to help lay the groundwork for broadband deployment across the nation. There is so much information that comes along with this story, that I couldn't fit it all on air. I want to share some of the links I find interesting and useful in understanding broadband and how the government plans to help Internet Service Providers expand.

Since the Heartland is such a rural area and internet has become one of my interests, this story combined two things I care about into one. I think that this is an important issue. After the story aired, many of you obviously agreed as I received a number of phone calls and emails asking for more information. Many of you live in rural areas and have been waiting for broadband access to get to you. While I haven't seen a timeline as to when broadband will be deployed, there has been some very basic steps taken in the direction of more deployment. I suspect there will be some follow up stories as work moves along. In the meantime, check out this list of links to help you better understand the efforts of broadband expansion. As always I welcome feedback.

FCC on Recovery Act
Broadband Opportunities for Rural America - FCC
Broadband Technology Opportunities Program - NTIA
Rural Development Broadband Loan and Loan Guarantee Program
Submit Electronic Comments on National Broadband Plan
ConnectKentucky.org
ConnectedTennessee.org
Broadbandcensus.com
Below are pdf files.
Missouri Rural Internet Access Task Force - Addendum Report Jan. 12, 2009
Comments of the State of Missouri before the NTIA and Rurual Utilities Service
Contact information about broadband expansion through Recovery Act
Testimony of NTIA to Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet Committee on Energy and Commerce April 2, 2009
Missouri Sen. Jason Crowell on Expanding Broadband Networks in Rural Areas
Big River Telephone Company Outlines Broadband Expansion Plans
FCC Launches Development of National Broadband Plan - Press Release
FCC Launches Development of National Broadband Plan - Notice of Inquiry
FCC Launches Development of National Broadband Plan - Copps Statement
FCC Launches Development of National Broadband Plan - Adelstein Statement
FCC Launches Development of National Broadband Plan - McDowell Statement

Behind the Curtain at Heartland News

Join us for News on the Road today at out southern Illinois bureau in Carterville.

I'll be hosting a Behind the Scenes look at News on the Road online at kfvs12.com. Tune in about 4:30 or so. Take a look at our satellite truck. I'll also interview some of our news anchor. Kathy Sweeney, Jeff Cunningham, Bob Reeves, Todd Richards, Arnold Wyrick, Carly O'Keefe, and our newest addition to the the southern Illinois bureau, Julia Bruck will be there.

Feel free to email me if you have any questions for the staff and I'll ask them! chendricks@kfvs12.com

*Note there is a chance for storms, so Behind the Scenes is subject change.

Find us on Facebook!

I just wanted to write a quick note that you can now find KFVS-TV on Facebook. Producer/reporter Zakk Gammon is helping update the page.

You may have heard us talk about our Twitter account. (www.twitter.com/kfvsnews). Now you can also follow us on Facebook.

Check us out! Become a fan, leave a post. We'll be adding pictures and video soon!

What kind of tech user are you?

I was perusing through the Pew Research Center website and found an interesting quiz that tells you what kind of tech user you are. As a web producer, this perked my interest so I took the quiz.

After answering several questions about my online and mobile usage, it told me I am a "digital collaborator." According to Pew, I use the Internet to work with and share my creations with others. Pew also says I'm enthusiastic about how ICTs help me connect with others and confident in how to manage digital devices and information. For the most part, I would have to agree. I'm online everday. A majority of the work I do is online. I consume information and entertainment online. I also communicate with others via social networking and email online. Not to mention, I'm a newbie to the smartphone world, so I now use my Blackberry to get online.

So if you're interested to find out if you're a media mover, roving node, information encumbered or some other type of tech user, take the quiz and find out.

Decorative masks make the Swine Flu fashionable

It's the latest thing out of Mexico and it's catching on! No, not the swine flu. That's old news. Decorated surgical masks are the latest hip fashion statement.

While I know that the H1N1 virus aka Swine Flu is a very serious matter, it didn't take long for people to start taking advantage of the situation and having a little fun.

It's pretty much all we've been hearing the the news this week, so I'm sure people are getting a little tired of such key words like "swine flu," "pandemic," "outbreak,". If you've got to sport a mask, why not decorate it and make it fun to wear?

(Photo from telegraph.co.uk)

The fashionable thing to do know is to decorate your mask and show it off. In fact, several

designers have already come out with creative masks and are selling them online.

Whether it's a drawing on a manly mustache, pretty butterfly, menacing skull, smiley face or even a rose, it's catching on. Even the street performers are getting into the act.

Not sure how to get started on your next creative project? eHow offers step by step instructions on how to decorated your own mask.

So even though the H1N1 is serious, it's nice to see people can find humor in what could be a scary pandemic and add some style to the "better safe than sorry" motto.