Indiana Broadband office looks at how to use grant funding NASHVILLE, Ind. (WISH) – The Indiana Broadband Office is looking for input on how to improve rural broadband internet access. The state agency hosted several meetings it’s calling “listening sessions” across the state this mon th. Indiana received $868 million from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program. It’s part of a federal effort created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021. The program aims to connect unserved and underserved communities, like those in rural parts of the country, to the internet. Just over 10% of all households in Indiana had no internet access in 2022, according to a 2024 Purdue University study. That figure increases to nearly 15% in the state’s rural areas. The IBO’s tour of rural counties continues through March, with three more listening sessions planned this month. Mainstream Fiber Networks is an internet service provider based in Nashville, Indiana. It connects 13 rural counties in southern Indiana. Representatives of the company have been attending the listening sessions to hear the input first hand. Senior External Affairs Director Mike Wilson says this kind of feedback is invaluable to both the state and internet companies like Mainstream. “It’s a good way to send up a flare,” Wilson said. “And say, ‘Look, this community still has a lot of unserved and underserved people, and they’re very passionate about it.’ These are people that will use their broadband to the fullest extent.” Brown County Schools was the company’s first customer. It hooked up the district to broadband Internet in 2012. Fiber lines laid out for the school also helped connect the surrounding neighborhoods, creating a ripple effect. David Phelps, technology director for Brown County Schools, has had a front seat to the changes the service has brought to students in the rural community. “We have the opportunity to do things differently than we’ve ever done them before in education,” Phelps said. “Being able to access the same things at home that you do at school is valuable for student education. They get an opportunity to kind of reinforce what they’ve learned already.” Yet, Phelps says accessing the internet can still be costly for students and their families. “A lot of people, a lot of families. Still need access to the broadband,” Phelps said. “Just the having the technology, the infrastructure there isn’t quite enough. We need to make sure that people can actually get to it and use it.” According to Broadband Now — a company that researches internet connectivity rates and compares prices among internet service providers — over 11% of Hoosiers still don’t have access to broadband Internet. Working to close that gap of course brings business to companies like Mainstream. However, Wilson says with the advent of telemedicine, telecommuting and e-learning it can also be a driving factor in developing rural communities. “A lot of counties are facing losing their younger populations,” Wilson said. “A lot of that is because of the technology picture … that is the equalizer that [cities] can then build off of use as an economic development tool and grow their communities.” The next IBO listening session is planned for Monday in Boone County. It will be a the Whitestown Public Library from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Remaining Indiana Broadcast Office Listening Sessions Boone County – March 24 | 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Whitestown Public Library | 6310 Albert S. White Dr. Jefferson County – March 27 | 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Madison Public Library | 420 W. Main St. Lawrence County – March 31 | 5:30 p.m. – 7: 30 p.m. StoneGate Center (Bedford) | 931 15th St. ...read more read less