Urbana-Champaign Big Broadband (UC2B) Adoption Operations

Total Funding to Date

$450,000.00

Investigator

Jon Gant directs a canvassing operation and research team to assess and evaluate the implementation, progress and overall adoption success of the UC2B project. Researchers hope to deepen the understanding of the barriers to broadband adoption among residents of underserved communities. Gant's team has been integral to identifying households that are eligible for free installation, and then working with city agencies and local businesses to connect the households to fiber-optic broadband service. The Broadband Operations project has experience across the digital spectrum, from those completely unfamiliar with digital applications, to others who utilize the Internet for education, entertainment, employment, or citizen activism, among a range of choices. The adoption team is on the telephone, in the field, and training trainers to foster wider use of broadband in our communities.

Funding Agencies

  • National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 2011 – $450,000.00