Foothills Connect: Connecting Rutherford County

Rural Broadband Equals More Jobs

Is there any doubt? Connectivity equals economic growth. Here is more information about the results of broadband's effects on rural areas.

Location, Location, Location

Rainbow House On Clipper St.
Originally uploaded by mybluemuse aka PJ Taylor

Purchasing a house is about location and connectivity. This recent article points out how folks shun buying some homes if they don't include high-speed Internet access. It is an Associated Press article printed in the Charlotte Observer. What do you think?

We Don't Have 50 Years!

USI Wireless Access Point. South Minneapolis Pilot Project
Originally uploaded by pfhyper

50 years? It took more than 50 years for electricity to reach everyone in the United States in spite of its many benefits. The establishment of high-speed internet has vast benefits. Yet the major players are focusing on the most lucrative areas and leaving out the spaces that are harder to connect. But we don't have 50 years to become connected. The time is now to establish connectivity. About 25% of Rutherford County's homes have dial up only. It is not a function of whether someone can afford it. It is a function of geography. So communications companies are deciding who has economic development and who does not. The time is now for us to have a plan and implement it. What do you think?

Started With a Rotten Tomato

Rotten Tomato
Originally uploaded by macmanluke

Visiting a farmer and seeing tomatoes rotting on the vine was the start of a new idea. The Rutherford County farmer could not sell all the tomatoes he produced that year and they were left on the vine. A month later Foothills Connect Executive Director, Tim Will, visited a chef in Charlotte. The chef could not find enough tomatoes to cook with. It was the same tomatoes the farmer could not sell. The chef was paying $2 per tomato. Tim had an idea that was the start of the Farmers Fresh Market.

Connecting Rutherford County Farmers with Charlotte chefs was possible through technology. Going on-line the chef placed the order. The farmer had the product delivered. The end result was more money for the farmer for their produce and the chef's had products that were fresher than anything they had ever used. This has become the state model for connecting farmers and buyers.

Looking for more information? Check out this 10 minute video produced by the NC Rural Center.

The Little Ones Understand

steal this connection
Originally uploaded by dana~2

I am still amazed in my travels that the little ones understand. I am currently sitting in a higher end hotel of a major chain. The internet access is $25 for 24 hours. I am a member of their frequent guest program. The hotels at the lower end of their brand offer internet access free of charge. This is a major reason why I stay at these cheaper hotels ... free connectivity. I am in this hotel only because the meeting I am attending is here.

The bigger airports and the more expensive hotels charge for internet access. The smaller airports and cheaper hotels provide it free of charge. Some day the bigger ones will understand what the smaller ones already know ... people need access that is free.

To continue this story ... the next afternoon I am able to access wifi at Panera Bread. It costs about $4 and includes a huge brownie and drink. Clearly they understand their customers.What do you think?

The County Vision

Deskolicious 3.1
Originally uploaded by Glenn Wolsey

The vision remains ... Foothills Connect Board on September 16, 2008 reaffirmed their vision. Every, home, business, and location in the county will have fiber or better connectivity. We are committed to seeing that the important first step is taken ensuring that everyone has access to ultra-high speed connectivity along with free access for the slower speeds. It is essential to our current economic growth.

Now is the time to be fulfilling this vision. We can use your support. Please join us. What do you think?

Another Success Story ... With Connectivity

Dogwood
Originally uploaded by kiteline

A rural nursery was successful then it opened its web presence. Meadowbrook Nursery's business exploded with online sales. So many orders went through on some days their host server went down. But the ironic point is the local internet provider does not run high speed connections to their business location. The nursery owners have to drive to their home to work with a high speed connection. Its another example how a lack of connectivity can hold down economic growth. What can we do to ensure everyone has opportunity for economic growth?

Social & Economic Inequality

Peanut planet
Originally uploaded by gadl

It is frustrating the way connectivity access is "assigned." People who want to run a business from their residence are begging for connectivity yet cannot get it. One business can drive down the road less than .5 mile and see where the high speed line is tied off because of a county line. It is a parallel to giving people electricity or basic phone service from years ago. This assignment of just fundamental high speed service limits the social and economic equality from connectivity. We may live in an advanced time yet many cannot even if they wanted to because providers refuse to run high speed service to them. What is your experience?

Another Success Story

Matt had a very slow connection. Work was impossbile for a web designer without ultra high speed connectivity. Matt was able to ake advantage of the connection speeds available through Foothills Connect. Free internet access is available through the physical internet lab. Using this connectivity Matt was able to establish his business ARCHON Creative Design. This is the connectivity we need in Rutherford County so everyone has the opportunity to grow their own interests and business. What do you think?

More Money on Smaller Spaces

Apple to Apple
Originally uploaded by Lori Greig

Farmers Fresh is a highly innovative program connecting farmers directly with chefs. Rutherford County farmers have orders placed through Foothills Connect's Farmers Fresh program. Technology makes the connection simple and cost effective. Not only are farmers able to sell their goods at a higher price but chefs can purchase the best ingredients at terrific prices.

A transformation is also occurring with the farmers. Through this Farmers Fresh connection they can now earn more per acre than ever before. Speciality crops grown for the chefs are yielding far more than traditional crops. No longer do farmers have to harvest large acres at a small profit per acre. Now they can harvest small acres for large profits.