County hopes to beef up connections

Communicating is key to informing citizens and connections are key to communicating.

With that in mind Milam County is seeking to fill the gap of internet connections that exist in many parts of the county.

To do that County Judge Steve Young wants to find ways to get grants to bring Milam up to speed.

So the county has partnered with Connected Nation Texas to hopefully bring high speed internet to all parts of the county.

Connected Nation Texas is a statewide initiative funded by the Texas Rural Funders to support all Texans in leveraging broadband. Technology, especially widespread access, use and adoption of broadband, improves all areas of life, according to the Connected Nation Texas website.

“This is not going to be a quick and easy fix,” Young said.

“We need to know what we have in the county,” he said.

To find that and other information concerning internet connections, there is a survey that residents of all parts of the county can fill out to help the county leaders.

“The number one thing that needs to be done is fill out the survey,” he said.

To fill out the survey go to: https://www.myconnectedcommunity.org/milam-county/ and choose from one of the categories to complete the survey.

One may complete a survey for more than one category. For example, if you own a business complete both the business survey and the personal survey.

The information will be critical to determining what is needed and how improvements can be funded, Young said.

At the commissioner court meeting Nov. 23, he said that there were currently 287 surveys turned in.

“We need 1,000 to get this thing going,” he said.

The next step after filling out the surveys will be to have a town hall meeting with everyone who is interested in the project listening in, he said.

“If you have any interest in broadband, then be in on that meeting,” Young said.

The Zoom meeting is planned for Dec.8 at 10 a.m.

To connect to the meeting on your computer go to https://zoom.us/j/99541173478?pwd=b1FBM0NUdGpBT1NzZHdKeVRuNFMxZz09 and use the following information to join in: Meeting ID: 995 4117 3478 and the Passcode is 314075. To connect by phone: 1-346-248-7799, 99541173478#.