Cortland Standard: Dryden Fiber, Cornell students study rural internet access

DRYDEN — Dryden Fiber Executive Director David Makar said he realized he wanted to do a community survey a few months into the position. Years later, that goal is becoming real as he works with Cornell students on a survey for the municipal run internet service provider.

The survey is being conducted to find out both basic information on marketing the fiber service, pricing it and operational improvements, but also on Dryden Fiber’s residential and economic impact on their coverage zone. Makar said Dryden Fiber wants answers to many questions they’ve been having on how to mend the digital divide within Dryden.

The digital divide refers to a gap in internet access with many in rural areas relying on low-speed connectivity, known as dial-up service, making them unable to easily access online resources. Dryden Fiber says by bringing broadband internet to rural areas, they’re allowing residents to easily access education or business opportunities, hear others’ voices and opinions, learn unknown information and more.

“We want to be practical to address the issues we’re facing to reach those who don’t have this service,” Makar said.

Makar said Deputy Supervisor Dan Lamb was crucial in putting this mixed method survey together.

Lamb works as an associate teaching public policy professor at Cornell. He said incoming graduate student Ibrahim Emara expressed interest in Dryden Fiber and the work they’ve done to bring high-speed internet to communities that don’t have it.

Lamb said Emara has previous experience with survey work for nonprofits and with the rural digital divide Dryden Fiber is working to fix. Emara is Dryden Fiber’s main contact for the five-student graduate group “Data for Good in Policy” conducting the survey.

Makar said the students are working hard, as a board of directors will be reviewing the survey prior to completion and make sure it “stands up to scrutiny.” Lamb said he is glad the students are passionate about this, as it helps them while saving the town money.

Lamb said the survey will be a project for the students, but Dryden Fiber plans to use it beyond Tompkins County and even New York.

“It could be useful for those outside of the region or customers buying broadband from municipalities,” Makar said.

Makar said the survey can be used by municipalities, customers, state governments or anyone looking to know more about a municipal broadband service. Makar said he thinks the survey will “create a ripple effect,” giving a guideline and information on operating, marketing and pricing this service. Lamb said he thinks the survey will be “transformative” as it can be used as an example for others.

Makar said the survey will help to tell Dryden Fiber’s story as the municipal service continues to expand and add additional parcels in Dryden, Caroline and Freeville this year. He said the survey and its methodology is still being outlined but they hope to have it in place by the early April and conclude the survey by the late June.

Following the survey, Makar said recommendations on how the service can be improved and its impact will be made in the summer and fall.

Originally posted online here: 

https://www.cortlandstandard.com/news/dryden-fiber-cornell-students-study-rural-internet-access/article_c98a9c8f-7ade-4112-a68f-8cbaf4a2c293.html