Many areas of South Dakota and other Northern Plain states are lacking reliable access to broadband service. The Center for Rural Affairs is now conducting a survey of South Dakotans and their broadband access needs. Center’s Rural Policy Associate Heidi Kolbeck Urlacher says their survey is on line and takes only a few minutes to complete.
She says the survey is being done statewide and they’re especially interested in hearing from rural areas.
Urlacher says they’re not only focusing on access but what residents have and need when it comes to digital equipment and broadband.
Urlacher says information from this survey will guide outreach efforts with community and economic development professionals in an effort to increase digital inclusion and literacy. According to South Dakota’s Chief Information Security officer, 125,000 people or one in six South Dakotan’s currently lack adequate broadband access.
