Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
THE INSTALLATION of a new 220-foot communication on Radar Hill in Upson continues Wednesday, as Ryan Newberry, left, and John Wehe, with OK Tower and Guiding Service of Stetsonville, Wis., tighten one of the tower's guy-wires. Once installed, the tower will house communication equipment for Iron County fire, EMS and law enforcement services, as well as state and federal equipment. The tower will also hold broadband Internet technology that was funded through a 2015 broadband expansion grant that was part of the effort to expand high-speed Internet services in the northern part of Iron County.
By RICHARD JENKINS
Hurley - In an effort to gauge the strengths and weaknesses of broadband service in Iron County, particularly the resources offered to senior residents, the Gogebic Range Broadband Committee and University of Wisconsin Extension System are holding an upcoming focus group session.
"The primary reason (the focus group) is coming together is to analyze the resources that are available to the senior citizens of this area. And senior citizens when I say that this includes everybody, because eventually we will all be there," said Norm McKindles, who chairs the broadband committee. "The purpose of the meeting is to analyze what types of services are available to seniors currently - and also I'm hoping the outcome of the focus group is going to be analyze what the needs are in the future."
The focus group will meet Sept. 29, beginning at 2 p.m., at the Iron County Courthouse.
Funded through a grant from Bader Philanthropies and run by the UW Extension System's Broadband and E-Commerce Education Center, the focus group will discuss six general questions. The questions cover how seniors use technology, why they use it and the obstacles they face.
Additional questions may be brought up during the discussion, McKindles said, adding older generations are becoming increasingly receptive to technology.
"It's surprising to see how many people that didn't grow up with technology are embracing it now. It's hard to believe how that's changed over time. There are people in their 70s and 80s that are technology literate. And so I feel they need to have resources available so they can (stay) in their homes and (be) functional as long as they can," McKindles said. "My understanding is there are technologies out there that I am not even aware of that can help people stay in their homes and be functional citizens, without having to go into a nursing home, for a longer period of time."
While cataloguing current resources is important, McKindles really wants to focus on areas of improvement.
"I don't think looking at what we have now is good enough. I think we have to be proactive and look at what the needs are down the road," he said. "Because if we're not looking ahead we're going to be behind."
While organizers have reached out to a variety of groups in the area, there is still space if people are interested in attending. Those who do want to attend need to RSVP, McKindles said, which can be done by emailing him at [email protected] or calling the Iron County UW Extension Office at 715-561-2695.
Broadband advocates have taken steps in recent years to improve high-speed Internet access in the county, primarily through applying for Broadband Expansion Grants through the Wisconsin Public Service Commission. Work is currently being completed on a trio of towers designed to expand service in the northern part of the county, a project which is funded by a grant the county received last year.
It was recently announced the county, through the Iron County Resource Development Association, had received its second grant through the Public Service Commission.
This grant is for $79,101 in grant funds and an additional local match of $80,100 in cash and in-kind installation costs. The project will locate towers near Pine Lake, Springstead, Popko Circle in Mercer and Saxon Harbor.
"This grant shares the opportunity (of improved broadband service) for other people down in the southern part of the county, Mercer and north of Mercer specifically," McKindles said.
The inclusion of the Saxon Harbor portion of the project was designed to provide campers with improved WiFi and was added prior to the July 11 storm that caused flooding that destroyed the harbor. It was kept in the application as it will not only benefit those using the harbor after it is rebuilt - potentially bringing in extra revenue to the county through increased usage of the harbor - but could also be utilized during the rebuilding process, according to Iron County Development Zone Coordinator Kelly Klein.
"There's going to be a period of construction (at Saxon Harbor) and it could be useful during that period," Klein said.
