“Isolation is a recurring factor in poverty and backwardness around the world, whether that is physical isolation or cultural isolation, for any number of particular reasons.” That’s a quote by Thomas Sowell from his book “Wealth, Poverty and Politics: An International Perspective.”

The Connect Bedford Broadband Summit, which was held Tuesday at Shelbyville Central High School, identified lack of broadband across the county as one of the main factors of modern-day isolation.

Several panels with community leaders and advocates answered questions on the lack, need, and acceleration of broadband relating to agriculture, government, schools, medical needs, and daily life.

The focus group Connect Bedford is hoping to bridge this digital divide and become the first fully connected rural county in Tennessee that supplies broadband to every corner of the county by updating and installing faster broadband throughout the county through multiple grants over the next several years.

Adrianne Furniss, Executive Director at Benton Institute for Broadband and Society, and Bill Coleman, a Minnesota-based broadband development consultant, are serving as advisors to Bedford County during this program.

During the summit, they commented how “Bedford County is way ahead of the curve in having Broadband Plan that the county can execute on” as well as how the county has “a unified vision and tremendous participation from all groups and at all levels.”

To help identify the underserved areas, you can take this quick survey at https://tinyurl.com/m3ukdeet or stop by the Times-Gazette office for a paper version, from now until July 9.