(Atlantic) NishnaNet is one of only 11 Corporate DOER’s honored nationwide of the inaugural Digital Opportunity Equity Recognition (DOER) Program. This program was created to acknowledge the tireless efforts of Americans working to close the digital divide in communities without access to affordable, reliable broadband.
This Week, Commissioner Starks of the Federal Communications Commission announced the honorees.“It is clear that our long-standing digital divide has morphed into a monstrous new COVID-19 divide,” said Commissioner Starks. “From the start of the COVID-19 pandemic through now, I have heard stories about the innovative and rapid ways individuals, non-profit organizations, and companies are responding to the connectivity needs of people across this country who are seeking access to medical professionals via telehealth services, education, and safe ways to communicate with family and friends.”
“When I saw the list of honorees and what our peers had done to help their communities during this pandemic gave validation that the work we are doing every day locally to connect the disconnected is working,” said Scott Bennett, owner of NISHNANET.
NISHNANET is a local family-owned ISP started in 2018 that delivers broadband to approximately 500 square miles of Cass and Audubon, Iowa, servicing hundreds of families, farms, and small businesses. NISHNANET’s service is affordable and priced below typical urban median broadband prices. They’ve assisted the Atlantic Community School District with building a private wireless network to provide connectivity for low income/non-broadband connected homes and to support the district’s “Return to Learn” plan for students who are unable to attend traditional classes.
“We still have a lot of work to do closing the digital divide in rural America. I am very proud of our work to “get this done” locally when other providers don’t see rural customers as profitable. You can’t simply leave a large section of your community disconnected. At least once a month we still connect someone who has never been able to get “High Speed” Internet” stated Scott Bennett.
The program honorees will be recognized at a virtual reception on October 1s, 2020t at 11 am Central.
