Rural GA Reach
This is a group project to help raise awareness about the need for improved communications during disasters. The concept is to pilot a program providing funding for the purchase of mobile satellite units to University of Georgia’s Extension. The units would be sent to areas that are typically impacted by disasters or historically are areas with underserved internet bandwidth. They can be used for not only aiding communications during a disaster incident but during ‘blue sky’ days, can be used for training by extension agents or possible telehealth.
“We hope that we can reach all types of people in need in our rural communities during disasters when connectivity can be difficult- from farmers to emergency responders and medical professionals and everyone in between. When not in use for disaster response, these units can be utilized for training purposes and for general internet service/connection limitation throughout each county.”