Volunteers are needed to help improve internet services in Wayne County.
A group is forming now, with plans to start meeting at the end of March, in the hopes of securing federal funding for broadband expansion to unserved and underserved areas, said Julie Gronski, Wayne County ARPA fund manager and broadband coordinator.
“The state of Missouri will soon receive more than $1.7 billion dollars in federal funding for broadband expansion to unserved and underserved areas of the state,” Gronski explained. “The Office of Broadband Development is currently planning how it will distribute these funds throughout the state.
“Some broadband experts do not believe this amount of funding is sufficient to provide high speed internet connections for all Missouri locations which are currently considered unserved or underserved.”
Wayne County residents are taking steps to make sure that as many locations as possible within Wayne County are served by this funding, she said in a press release.
“A group of volunteers is now forming with the goal of demonstrating to the Office of Broadband Development and potential industry partners that Wayne County wants high-speed internet service and that it has a plan for the county,” Gronski shared.
The group plans to work with broadband consultants over a period of 16 weeks to assess Wayne County’s internet needs and create a plan to reach all unserved and underserved locations in the county.
The group will begin meeting at the end of March. Each week (likely on Tuesday mornings between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m.) the group will meet either in-person or by Zoom to build a county-wide plan.
Gronski is organizing the group and is looking for participants from all areas of the county.
Several Piedmont, Patterson, and Clearwater Lake area residents have volunteered, but the group currently has no members from other regions, she said.
Anyone who is interested in improving internet service in Wayne County and can commit to two-hour weekly meetings for 16 weeks should contact Gronski at 573-223-4185 or by email at waynecocaresfund@gmail.com.