CONNECT CARROLL: GPS MAPPING OF BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE IN RURAL LOUISIANA
Frazier,*R.L.1; Barnes, J.N.2; Burns,D.M.3; Morris. D.K.41County Agent Madison Parish, Louisiana Cooperative Extension, Tallulah, LA, 71282
2Asstistant Professor and Direstor, Delta Rural Development Center, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, LSU AgCenter, Oak Grove, LA, 71263
3County Agent Tensas Parish, Louisiana Cooperative Extension, St. Joseph, LA, 71366
4Extension Specialist, Agriculture and Biological Engineering, Louisiana Cooperative Extension, Baton Rouge, LA, 70894
Abstract:
Lack of affordable high-speed internet connectivity prevents many residents in rural Louisiana from realizing the advantages of the World Wide Web. Access to education, health care services and entrepreneurial opportunities could be enhanced with additional access to broadband. Unfortunately, few options exist in rural Louisiana. DSL connections are only available within city limits. Other connection options for residents include satellite, which many residents cannot afford. A third option is cellular phone service. However, most rural areas in the U.S. do not have a broadband infrastructure development plan because data is lacking. We seek to fill this gap. The purpose of this presentation is to explain the process developed to map the broadband infrastructure in two rural Louisiana parishes, East and West Carroll. The Connect Carroll project aims to identify the coverage capabilities of cellular providers by evaluating the signal strengths for each provider, Verizon and AT&T. 4-H students were recruited and trained in the use of GIS/GPS technology. Signal strength and GPS location was gathered every mile on every state and parish road using a handheld GPS units using bar strength readings from AT&T and Verizon cell phones. Information was then downloaded into Arc Map where color maps were generated showing the signal strength for each cellular provider. These maps will be used to inform residents and encourage chambers of commerce to identify solutions to fill in the numerous gaps identified in coverage. Plans are underway to extend this project to the additional 13 parishes in rural northeast Louisiana