Faster internet speed is headed to Yuma
Broadband Task Force gets green light to get to work - News 11's Arlette Yousif reports
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Faster than the speed of light, or something like it. Yuma County's Broadband Task Force is working to install more fiber optics all over the County to bring the community better upload and download speeds.
The need for stronger internet service has only been heightened due to the pandemic as many jobs turned in to work-from-home positions. Some jobs will likely stay at home even after the dust has cleared.
"Broadband is a huge need in this County and we have a lot of unserved and underserved population. So, we need to take the lead and we have the advantage of getting the American Rescue Plan Act funds. That is eligible to be used for broadband infrastructure," says Broadband Task Force member and County Administrator Susan Thorpe.
Other, much larger committees, have addressed the issue of poor local internet speeds before.
"Because it was so large um, it was difficult to get everybody to, to have consensus, and to move forward quickly," explains Thorpe.
However, they were able to complete phase one or planning of the infrastructure. Still, the county board of supervisors wanted to move things along faster.
"Our county board of supervisors stepped in and said, you know, we can’t wait. There’s too much at stake," says Thorpe.
As of now, the task force is searching for an engineering company to assess the condition of the existing broadband set-up.
"We want to make it so that everybody has accessibility and can use that higher speed so that we can help medicine, we can help education, we can help people in their homes actually connect with the world. Which is basically an essential utility these days," explains Thorpe.
An essential utility for everyday busy lives.
John Hessinger from the Better Business Bureau says "More low-income households finding better internet solutions as well as utilizing those internet solutions for things like finding jobs, for returning to work, for utilization for classes."
Internet providers will have an opportunity to use the new infrastructure for their customers, but nothing is planned as of yet.
